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There are three distinct phases of the Test career of the much maligned Shane Watson.
ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA THIRD ODI SCORECARD
Phase 1, between 2005 and 2008, was where he only played a limited number of games due to his injury issues and arguably was still not ready for the demands of Test cricket
Phase 2, between July 2009 and November 2011, was where he was truly a Test all-rounder.
Phase 3, between November 2011 and July 2015, was a period with the odd highlight but predominantly poor form, no settled batting position and ongoing injury problems.
The stats for the separate phases make for interesting reading.
Phase 1
Batting: Position No 6 or 7. 267 runs at an average of 16.69, 50s: 1
Bowling: 14 wickets at an average of 35.57, with a best of 4-42
Phase 2
Batting: Position No 1. 1878 runs at an average of 43.67, 100s: 2, 50s: 15
Bowling: 42 wickets at an average of 25.50, with a best of 5-17
Phase 3
Batting: Positions No. 1–6. 1596 runs at an average of 30.69, 100s: 2, 50s: 8
Bowling: 19 wickets at an average of 50.36, with no more than 1 wicket in an innings
What does this all mean?
Aside from his own fragility in terms of form and body he has a strong case to point some of the blame at the hands of the selectors along with Michael Clarke, Mickey Arthur, and by default Ed Cowan, Dave Warner and Chris Rogers.
Why so?
If the selectors, captain and coach really wanted Watson to succeed, he needed to stay at the top of the order.
His purple period both with bat and interestingly ball was when he was opening the batting. He truly was a Test all-rounder, an average of nearly 44 with the bat, and an excellent 25 with the ball.
This was the true Watto, albeit for a lack of hundreds he was an essential cog and it is something the selectors and captain should have noted and rectified.
If they were going to play Watson, it was either him opening or nothing.
Instead coaches, selectors and Clarke, while maintaining the policy line of loyalty, contributed to his slow demise.
With Watson on the sidelines of the start of the Australian summer in 2011-12, Dave Warner came into the side as opener – a position he is yet to relinquish.
He was joined by the never to be forgotten Phillip Hughes, before Hughes was discarded for Ed Cowan.
What was to follow on Watson’s return to the Australian team in April 2012 against the West Indies was the pivotal moment when his career would start the slide into decline.
At the time the incumbent openers were Warner and Cowan. Warner quickly established himself as a long-term option. That was not the case for Cowan, who as we know was later to be discarded. He had played in 4 home Tests, notched a couple of 50s but was only averaging in the mid 30s. It was a useful start but the true incumbent after only being away for 6 Tests was Watson – and he should have been reinstated.
He had batted at No. 1 in his previous 25 Tests and was in the best form of his career, while Ed Cowan had only played in 4. But instead of doing what they should have, Clark and Arthur kept Warner and Cowan together, and for the rest of his career Watson would hover between 3 and 6 with mixed success.
Watson did briefly return to the opener spot when Warner was sidelined, but the horse had bolted. Ed Cowan was gone and the door had opened for Renaissance Man Chris Rogers, who owned the spot until his retirement last month.
Of course his own body and form have a lot to do with his promise not being realised.
But in in fairness to Watson, if others had shown some greater trust and respect and restored him to his rightful spot, then he may have been able to prove all of his doubters wrong.
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