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Shane Watson has found himself in the moment. The question is, can he be the man?
After making a strong start their first innings with an opening partnership of over 50, Australia failed to capitalise. After all making solid starts, Australia’s top order, bar Chris Rogers, threw their wickets away in astounding fashion to leave them 5-264 at stumps on Day 2.
With Australia still trailing by 166 on England’s first innings total of 430, the stage is now set for the not out Shane Watson (29 not out) to produce a career defining innings.
It is the opportunity that whether he wants it or not, Watson needs. Amazing potential is a great way to earn a start, but it is an unstable foundation to build a career on without performing.
And let’s be honest, his numbers aren’t great.
In 107 Test innings he has only gone on to make four centuries and 24 fifties with an average of 35.40. Not really worthy of a top six batting spot in the Australian Test Team.
In 58 Test matches he has bowled on average 15.6 overs across the whole match. That makes him seem like a handy part-timer who comes on to bowl when the front-liners need a rest. David Warner, Michael Clarke, Steven Smith and Adam Voges can all do that too. And 75 wickets in 91 Test bowling innings is far from impressive.
And thus, Shane Watson finds himself in the position with people constantly asking who will replace him. Firstly, it was who will replace him as vice-captain and then who will replace him at three? Thankfully we now know the answers. But if perhaps Shane fails to stand up tonight, the questions will ring out again. He has two Marsh brothers awaiting his failure.
Runs are generally enough to keep any batsman in a team for the short term. But runs under pressure, when your team is in need and everyone else has failed? Well, those runs are golden.
They are career-defining and can cement your place for the long term. Those runs are capable of changing public perception and providing hero status. Those runs are the runs that Watson needs.
So when Shane Watson walks to the crease to resume at 29 not out with the score at 5-264 and the game in the balance, Australia will be watching. His fans, seemingly diminishing exponentially, and his haters, ever increasing, will be sweating on every delivery he faces.
Famously in the Amazing Adelaide Test Match, Bill Lawry called an Australian wicket. ‘There’s a man coming around, he’s got to catch it for England!’.
To sign off in Bill Lawry’s words, ‘This man striding to crease, he’s got to score runs for Australia.’ He simply has to.
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