Retired Test allrounder Shane Watson has admitted he never came to terms with the Decision Review System and the LBW dismissals which plagued his career.
Watson’s reviews were the source of ridicule and frustration for Australian cricket fans as he repeatedly got it wrong, losing his wicket and using up a review in the process.
The 35-year-old conceded he found the DRS challenging during a live Facebook video for Islamabad United, the team he is plying his trade for in the Pakistan Super League.
“I made a number of bad reviews, which in the end I just gave up on and realised the same thing as always – if the umpire gives you out, you’re out,” Watson said.
“Growing up the umpire’s decision is always final so you don’t have to worry about whether you’re out or not.
“As soon as the reviews come in then you have to change your whole understanding of exactly whether it’s out and the rules that go with the umpire’s call.
“It took me a while to realise I hadn’t worked that out at all.”
Watson ended his Test career after a disastrous 2015 Ashes where he was repeatedly trapped in front.
He said despite working hard to overcome his LBW woes, he never managed to solve the issue.
“Different people have different weaknesses and mine was getting out LBW,” Watson said.
“I used to work incredibly hard technically on it all the time. The one thing I probably didn’t really work on is the mental aspect of exactly what was setting me to expose myself getting out that way regularly.”
Watson also backed former NSW teammate Ed Cowan’s call for Cricket Australia to provide more support for players in the wake of Nic Maddinson taking a break from the game for personal reasons.
“What Ed Cowan said is absolutely spot on, because if you go into the team it’s great and everything’s going well,” Watson said.
“But then when things don’t go well the media hammers you, the public hammers you and you come out the other side and you’re a shell of your former self.”
“There certainly needs to be some helping hand along the way.
“It shouldn’t get to the stage it has with Nic Maddinson because he’s a seriously good young man.
“He’s incredibly talented but things didn’t work out for his first opportunity to play for Australia but that doesn’t mean he’s a failure at all.”
Bakkies
Guest
The problem with Watson is that he tried to emulate Hayden by standing outside his crease and putting in a big stride. He didn't have the same batting ability and nous. He was also doing it dead in front below the knee roll.
Craig
Guest
Brilliant.
E-Meter
Guest
On the 1st day of the Sydney test, Watson was paraded around the SCG in a ute. The lads in the crowd were all giving him the DRS signal - fist tapping on arm.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think the LBW thing with Watson was a big concentration thing, because it often used to happen at a similar point, he'd get to 30-40 sort of point and then get out LBW. Bowlers had been targetting that all along, but he'd get to that point where he was feeling a bit more "in" and probably lose a bit of concentration and miss one he wasn't missing earlier in his innings. On the reviews, I did see a number of them where there one ones almost identical, where some were given out and some weren't, and ones given out and reviewed where barely feathering the stumps and were upheld and others given not out were just flicking the stumps too so would have stayed not-out if reviewed. Then you have others that look quite similar and are shown to be comfortably missing leg stump. So having seen those, you get struck on the pad, feel that your pad is a fair way down the wicket and the ball is tracking from off to leg and think there's a decent chance it might be missing leg stump so you review.
Craig
Guest
Watto can't be the smartest bloke going around. He obviously kept wasting reviews because he valued his own wicket much more than anyone elses.
Nate
Guest
Wow, how hard is it to come to terms with that you only have 2 reviews, don't waste it if it's close. I think Geoff Lemon summed it up best.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Alternate headline: "Watson Reviews Career - Still Out"