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.
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.
Where does he rate among Australian all-rounders in the last 50 years? What memories do you have of this significant cricketer?
Bludger
Guest
Interestingly Maxxie Walker also studied architecture and played football with the Demons back in that time. Sadly for cricket in Victoria I have lost count of superstar cricketers that chose to play footy instead of cricket. A lot of time, the un-athletic guys stay with cricket, whilst the real athletes go to football. So, the crapper sportsman stay with cricket I found. Problem for cricket there are only 11 jobs in the country at the highest level. In footy there are 18(22) x 18 gigs.
sheek
Roar Guru
Pat, I guess for those who might be interested, the 3 remaining members of that 1970 B team to NZ were opener Derek Chadwick & batsmen Tony Steele & Geoff Davies. Davies in particular, is a bit interesting. He got oh so close to test selection, but not quite close enough. Davies toured NZ with the B team in both 1967 & 1970. In 1968, when Walters was injured, he was 12th man for for the 1st test against the Windies. That was it! Davies was a competent middle-order batsman & very useful spin bowler. But not quite good enough.
Pat Rodgers
Roar Pro
Thanks Sheek. I really enjoyed looking at his career. Interestingly, he had his National service call-up papers in 1966 but was able to have this deferred because of his studies in architecture. He made the tour as a replacement for Doug Walters whose call-up was not deferred.
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Pat, Beatle Watson was called in as a replacement for Freddie Walters for the 1966/67 tour when Freddie was caught up in the Vietnam War draft. Watson was 9 months older than Walters, but at that stage of their careers, they were remarkably similar types. That is, an attacking middle order batsman & good enough to come on as first change medium-fast bowler. But while Walters returned & went onto a largely glittering test career, Watson's career stumbled at test level, although he gave great service to firstly Victoria, then WA. Perhaps Beatle liked to attack the bowling a bit too eagerly, often leading to unnecessarily cheap dismissals. But he was certainly an exciting batsman to watch. And also an excellent fielder as well as competent bowler. Oh, one thing you didn't mention, is that in between his 5 tests spread out between 1966/67 & 1972, he toured NZ in 1970 with the Australian B team at the end of the 1969/70 season. That team, under the captaincy of 1965 Windies tourist Sam Trimble, included other fringe test players in John Inverarity & Dave Renneberg. While the very next summer Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Froggy Thomson, Kerry O'Keeffe & Terry Jenner would all make their test debuts. Later still, John Maclean & the baby of that team, Alan Turner, would make their test debuts. Pat, thanks for sharing these memories of a fine first class cricketer.
DJM
Roar Rookie
Bit harsh on Tony Greig to call that a beamer. It was a highish full toss that Watson tried to pull and top edged into his face. Horrible injury and the best argument for helmets I ever saw. Watson got his initial chance in SA because Walters was unavailable due to national service. In my view a good player - at his best a very good one. I suspect in the modern era he would have been an ODI specialist.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Nice read.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Nice piece Pat. I do remember the Tony Greig beamer but otherwise not much about Watson’s play. Hard-hitting though not elegant batsman. Didn’t know he signed for WSC. That video of Peter Pollock gives a sense of seriously impressive quick bowler, as per his reputation.
Pat Rodgers
Roar Pro
Thanks Paul. He was also a very fine fielder and obviously very athletic (when not injured!) given that he played VFL for the Demons.
Paul
Roar Guru
Sad days to hear of Watson's passing. I think you've done the man and his career proud with this piece Pat. I thought he was a far better cricketer than his numbers suggest, even though their pretty fair. He could seriously hit a cricket ball and his bowling was deceptively good. That 7 for you mentioned, did the WSC camp no favours at the time, but that was because his bowling was underrated. He also showed great courage, not only in coming back to top line cricket after getting injured so badly, but by continuing to play all manner of attacking shots, as though nothing had happened . He's the sort of cricketer that would have made a killing playing short form cricket now. A really attacking batsman and a better than useful bowler