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Bum pats, warm hugs and cheeky kisses may have helped Matt Hayden and Justin Langer raise the bar for Australian Test openers – along with a few eyebrows.
But don’t expect to see any man love from current opening pair Shane Watson and Simon Katich – not that there is anything wrong with that.
Hayden and Langer couldn’t hide their affection for each other as they became Australia’s greatest Test opening duo.
Much to Watson’s bemusement.
“We probably aren’t as emotional as those two were, with our public shows of affection,” Watson laughed.
“But we’ve got a really strong inner bond (like Hayden and Langer).
“You’re never going to see as much hugging as what you did with Matt Hayden and Justin Langer, so we won’t be raising too many eyebrows in that regard.”
Not that the gloriously metrosexual Watson doesn’t respect the Hayden and Langer “partnership” that amassed an incredible 5,655 runs.
Watson will not surpass them with Katich due to the latter’s age (35) – although their 1,099 runs together already warrants a celebratory man hug.
But that won’t stop them trying to follow Langer and Hayden’s example – within reason.
Just don’t expect Watson to copy Langer and sit down for a meal prepared by his opening partner – despite Katich’s Celebrity Masterchef status.
“He doesn’t cook for me, no,” Watson laughed.
“(But) Katto has already been extremely good to me.
“We’ve had a good friendship, even before we ended up opening the batting together.
“We socialise as much as we possibly can.
“We know that deep down there’s such a tight inner bond because of what we’re doing, and trying to do.
“He’s an integral part of who we are.”
The gritty Katich may a key member of the Test team but the flamboyant Watson has been the revelation, scoring 990 runs at 47.14 since replacing Phil Hughes during last year’s Ashes series.
Despite Shane Warne claiming this week that Watson was more suited to batting at No.5, the blond allrounder claimed at this week’s Australian team camp on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast: “I love where I’m batting now at the moment.
“It does really suit my personality in the game, which I never thought it did until I had the opportunity.
“Batting with Katto is brilliant, you know exactly what you get from every single time he goes out to bat.
“He’s relentless with his concentration and toughness.”
The odd couple will be as important as ever as Australia eyes off a demanding next few months that includes October’s tour of India and the Ashes.
And the biggest challenge Watson reckons they will face this summer is England’s Stuart Broad.
Watson has been critical of English pacemen Steven Finn and James Anderson’s Ashes chances this week but he has heaped praise on the blond speedster.
“I think he will be the hardest bowler we’ll have to face in the English attack,” Watson said.
“He’s a really intelligent, thinking bowler – England are going to be reliant on him.”
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