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It would be in Shane Watsom’s best interests to be unbeaten when Michael Clarke declares today at the WACA.
Watson resumes on 29 with Steve Smith (5*), with Australia leading by 369 with seven wickewts in hand, and poised to regain the Ashes in just three Tests.
So far the 32-year-old has been by far the least productive of the recognised batsmen with scores of 22, 6, 51, 0, and 18, so he desperately needs to do something positive.
Clarke looms likely to call halt at around a 450-500 lead, which could be reached by lunch.
Having won the first Test by 381 and the seonnd by 218, it’s reasonable to assume the Australian will clinch the Ashes by 200-plus in Perth to complete their domination.
Watson would dearly love to be a party to that, or the national selectors will take a long hard look at his credentials for the biggest Test of any summer, Boxing Day at the MCG.
That’s one logical thought. The other is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Making just one change to a side that’s whupping its opposition can have a reverse reaction. That’s human nature. So whichever way the selectors move they are between a rock and a hard place.
Having said that, it’s a nice place to be after all the beatings the baggy greens have copped this year.
A stable side is a mighty hard side to beat, even if there is a weak link, and Shane Watson is certainly that at the momentt.
Which wouldn’t please Phillip Hughes, who has cracked three tons for South Australia this summer in the Sheffield Shield – 204 against the West in Adelaide, and 103 against the Vics at the MCG last month, and 118 against NSW last week at his old stamping ground – the SCG.
The 25-year-old has scored 549 Shield runs at 61 to genuinely press his claims for yet another recall.
He’s been on the selection merry-go-round, as has Usman Khawaja. But the now Queenslander hasn’t done enough to be recalled without a century this summer in his 255 Shield runs at 31.87.
That gives Hughes the inside running. But the selectors could look further into the future with Tasmanian 21-year-old Jordan Silk with his four tons in 11 first class matches, two of them this summer – 107 against Queensland at the Gabba, and 104 against South Australia in Adelaide in his 35 average and 421 run-aggregate.
He’s a silky strokemaker alright, and destined for baggy green sooner than later.
So Shane Watson’s immediate future is really up to Shane Watson.
Contenders are lining up to replace him. Only Watson can close the door on them.