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Shane Watson likely to get the nod ahead of Marsh for Cardiff

Shane Watson admits he wasn't the best at using DRS. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Roar Guru
6th July, 2015
27

Shane Watson is set to add to his 58 Tests for Australia when the first Test gets under way on Wednesday in Cardiff. With Mitchell Marsh slamming tons in both the tour matches, there was serious consideration that Watson could be dropped.

But the ineffective bowling of Marsh during the tour match could sway the selectors to bank on Watson to fill the No. 6 slot.

Under Darren Lehmann, Australia has always preferred to have a fast bowling all-rounder at six that can bowl 8-10 economical overs in a day, pose some sort of threat and score some handy runs. The inclination for this slot has always been towards a player that can produce more output with the ball.

For this reason alone, Watson is still higher than Marsh in the pecking order. Watson might have lost his pace, but among the crop of current bowlers in the squad he still has the skills to swing, reverse swing and, importantly, curb the flow of runs.

During the 2013 tour of England, Watson had performed the fifth bowler’s job admirably by sending down 85 overs, of which 38 were maidens. Since discovering the art of reverse swing on the 2008 tour of India, Watson’s credibility has increased.

With the Cardiff pitch known for its abrasive, dry nature, Watson’s relentless bowling is likely to cause a bigger headache to the English than Marsh.

Currently, Marsh’s bowling resembles that of Watson when he first debuted for Australia in 2005. The pace is around the 140km/h, but he is gun barrel straight. In the Test matches against Pakistan last October, he barely got the ball to reverse and he is known to dish out couple of bad balls an over.

The quota of overs from a fifth bowler like Watson has enabled Michael Clarke to still keep a lid on the opposition batting, while the frontline seamers are given a well-earned rest.

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Also with Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood likely to be seamers in the first Test. It means Hazlewood is the only renowned bowler out of the three known for bowling long, probing spells.

Johnson’s immense success in the 2013-14 Ashes at home was brought about because Clarke had used him in short sharp bursts. A majority of the spells were just four overs. If Johnson took a wicket, Clarke gave him that extra fifth over.

Similarly, Starc has regained his form through short sharp bursts with the white ball. These sharp bursts have ensured Johnson and Starc pace have sustained their pace over the day, making them a constant threat to the opposition batsmen.

In the Caribbean Tests, Starc and Johnson only bowled one five-over spell each. During the last summer against India, Johnson’s pace was down by a few yards and he was given more five over spells under the leadership of Steve Smith. Australia will need those crucial third or four-overs spells from their fifth bowler.

Watson is simply more skilled. He has the intelligence to work a batsmen out. He breaks partnerships. He bowls cutters, slower balls, outswingers and inswingers. When the ball swings, which it will in England, Watson can be a wicket taker.

Clarke has brought him on as early as the fifth over in the Lord’s Test in 2013. Watson dismissed Cook in three balls. Watson makes something happen as the fifth bowler.

Given that Marsh was introduced in the eighth over of the tour of match, this suggests the selectors were on a mission to give Marsh the first bite of the cherry. But he had let them and himself down, and it might just have cost him his Test spot.

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One may argue that Marsh is a better batsman, but the ideology of Clarke and Lehmann is to take 20 wickets. Watson provides them with a greater chance of achieving that objective.

So, unless Australia lose a Test or the batting fails miserably, expect Watson to continue to frustrate Australian public with his inclusion in the Test team.

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