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Graeme 'Beatle' Watson: A very full life

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26th April, 2020
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Graeme ‘Beatle’ Watson is more than a cricketing footnote.

In Ian Chappell’s heartfelt tribute to his great friend Graeme Watson, written after the all-rounder’s passing last Thursday, he described him as having led a “very full life”.

For someone who played only five Tests and two ODIs, Watson could easily be regarded as inconsequential to Australian cricket history. However, his very full life should certainly be recognised.

Not only was he the first to play for three different states in Sheffield Shield history, he almost played for four (Queensland) except that he signed up for World Series Cricket in 1977.

His life in cricket was littered with significant moments.

He was only 21 when selected to tour South Africa, where he made a half-century in his Test debut.

He played in the Victorian team that won the Sheffield Shield in 1966-67 and the Western Australian Shield-winning sides of 1971-72, 1972-73 and 1974-75.

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His batting ability was highlighted by innings such as his 150 in just 205 minutes for Victoria against Western Australia at the MCG in 1969-70.

Watson made 145 in his first match for Western Australia two years later when he left the ground believing he was out despite the umpire’s decision. In the score book the umpire later adjusted his dismissal to retired.

His 176 against Hampshire in 1972 in a 301-run opening stand with Keith Stackpole was a record partnership for the first wicket by an Australian pair in England and a record for the fourth innings of a first-class match in England. His 26 fours and five sixes proved his attacking ability and was all the more remarkable given his near-death experience after being hit by a Tony Greig beamer just months before. This required 40 pints of blood in transfusions. As this clip shows, it followed him being struck in the head by a Peter Pollock bouncer in the first innings.

It was with the ball that he put in a stunning performance in the twilight of his career during one of the first matches of World Series Cricket. Playing against the World XI at Rockhampton in early December 1977, he caused a collapse when in under five overs he took 7-26, including the scalps of Barry Richards, Asif Iqbal and Tony Greig.

When Watson finished his first-class career his figures stacked up well against many all-rounders. An average of 32.68 with the bat and 25.31 with the ball proves he deserves to be more than a footnote.

While ‘Beatle’ may not have been as famous as the Fab Four, his first-class record is impressive.

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Where does he rate among Australian all-rounders in the last 50 years? What memories do you have of this significant cricketer?

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