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When I was writing my book, Cricket’s Great All-rounders in 2008, I consulted Alan Davidson on whether I should include Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson in the book.
He suggested that I may include Symonds among ODI all-rounders but not Watson: “He can’t play three matches in a row without breaking down!”
And when ‘Watto’ Watson was pitch-forked in the third Ashes Test at Birmingham in July 2009 as an opener, I was among the majority to ridicule that selection. “What, at the expense of the exciting stroke-player Phil Hughes? Watson will breakdown before the fourth Test commences”, was the cynical verdict among the critics.
How Watto the wizard proved us all wrong.
And that too as an opening bat! In his opening debut, he top-scored in the first innings with 62 (adding 85 runs with Simon Katich for the first wicket) and made 53 in the second. He not only did not break down in the remaining Tests but totalled 240 runs at 48.00.
Since that July 2009, Watson has played non-stop cricket in England, India and Australia – standing tall and mighty like the Rock of Gibraltar when more famous names like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke drooped and fell.
It was not so much as proving his critics wrong but reinventing himself by training hard. He gave up alcohol but not his dream.
The Roar readers may groan but the Shane Watson story is a fairy tale combining Cinderella and the ugly duckling turning into a swanky swan.
His statistics are impressive, 1953 runs at 41.55 with two centuries (top score 126), and fifteen 50s in 27 Tests. His first century (vs. Pakistan on the MCG in December 2009) became dramatic because it followed 93 in the first innings and 89 and 96 against the West Indies earlier in the month.
Why dramatic? He reached his debut hundred on the MCG thanks to a single from a dropped catch. But a week after this lucky ton, he made 97 in the January 2010 Sydney Test Australia won with some help from the visiting Pakistanis.
When Australian batsmen collapsed in the recent Ashes series, Watson, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin provided some backbone.
Watson has also taken 43 Test scalps at 31.41 in his Test career with 6-51 as his best.
His stats are also workmanlike in ODIs; 3302 runs at 40.76 (with five centuries, his top-score being an aggressive 161 not out against England on the MCG last fortnight) in 122 ODIs. He also took 126 wickets and 38 catches. With 394 points, he is ranked no. 2 ODI all-rounder by ICC after Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (436 points).
Unknown to many, Watson has the highest batting average of 145.00 in the World Cup. In eight matches (six innings, five times not out) he scored 145 runs (highest score 65 not out). His Strike Rate of 170.58 is also a World Cup record.
So he can bat, bowl and catch in international cricket. But can he captain in view of uninspiring leadership by Ponting and Clarke in recent years?
In yesterday’s The Sun-Herald, Watson discussed the captaincy issue with Daniel Lane. “Of course it [Australian captaincy] appeals. It’s the greatest honour in Australian cricket.”
But he diplomatically added that Ponting and Clarke (and Cameron White in Twenty20 cricket) have done a great job for Australian cricket.
What do Roarers think of Shane Watson, aged 29, as a future Australian captain?