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The clarity of the view from the MCG grandstand during the first Test against India has prompted some introspection for Australian allrounder Shane Watson.
Forced to miss the match with a hamstring strain and a calf injury, Watson looked on as Ed Cowan made an impressive debut for Australia in the same position he occupied in his most recent Test match.
Cowan top-scored with 68 in the opener’s role that Watson occupied with mixed results against South Africa in Johannesburg last month.
As delighted as he was for the team, Watson realised Cowan’s performance hasn’t made his future in the Australian team any more secure.
Even before Cowan’s selection, Watson’s position in the batting order was under discussion with speculation that he could come in lower down to ease his workload and lengthen his cricket life-span.
“It’ll be interesting to see where I fit in,” Watson told a business lunch at the MCG on Tuesday.
Watson is aware that his problematic physical condition means he needs to bat and bowl to claim a place in the Australian team, a dilemma that was apparent to him before the Melbourne Test side was named.
“There’s no doubt that it would be great if my role was defined,” Watson told reporters.
“But my role … most probably will be different if I’m not bowling in Melbourne.
“I might not be available as an allrounder in Melbourne, so it’s going to be hard to exactly define my role.
“But there’s no doubt for my peace of mind and for the team’s it would be nice to know what they see me as and for the balance of the team to get the best out of myself.”
He repeated that view on Tuesday.
“I couldn’t see myself being anything other than an allrounder,” he said.
But the emphasis seems to be moving more toward batting than bowling for the player who has been plagued by injury for much of his career.
The Johannesburg Test emphasised Watson’s predicament.
Opening the batting in the first innings he scored 88 and then took 1-13 before being forced out of the attack by injury.
In the second innings he was out second ball for 0 and didn’t bowl.
But his own situation didn’t stop him from being anything but wholehearted in his praise for Cowan.
“Temperament is important, Ed was as in control of his temperament as he was in control of his game,” Watson said.
He was also honest enough to admit he looked on with mixed feelings.
“I’ve played in Boxing Day Tests and it hurts not playing here today,” he said.
The trouble for Watson is that for much of the time, playing tends to hurt even more.
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