Shane Watson---the greatest odi player ever?

[Cricketismylife]

What do people think? The main thing holding him back is his longevity, but it's hard to think of a better allrounder.

The people who could compete with him for this title are Shaun Pollock and M S Dhoni imo. Watson beats Kallis in odis since hes a better bowler than Kallis, and is a more destructive batsman than Kallis while only being a little less consistent.

There are obviously greater players than Watson in terms of individual disciplines, like Tendulkar, Mcgrath, Murali and Wasim, but none of these guys offer a real allround package like Watson.

Watson really ticks all boxes. He is devastating as an opener but can bat effectively anywhere in the order. His bowling is very accurate with good variations, as well as the ability to get conventional and reverse swing, and seam movement. He can also crank his pace up and bowl a nasty bouncer, but is smart enough to realise he is better off cutting down on pace.

If Watson can keep this up for some more years, then only really Shaun Pollock I believe could compete with him for the most valuable/greatest one day player ever.

 

[Cabinet96]

BIG call.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Needs more time, IMO. He's in the Lance Klusener class as of now. Better batsman and slightly lesser bowler.

He's definitely well on the way.

I don't rate Pollock's ODI batting at all, while we're at it.

 

[andyc]

Needs more time, IMO. He's in the Lance Klusener class as of now. Better batsman and slightly lesser bowler.

He's definitely well on the way.

I don't rate Pollock's ODI batting at all, while we're at it.

Incidentally, Watson and Klusener are the only two to average over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball in ODIs.

He's in my all-time Australian ODI XI right now, and time will tell for anything higher.

 

[Spark]

Yeah he's in mine too.

 

[Cabinet96]

Needs more time, IMO.

Pretty much this to be honest. Very good player and arguably the most valuable player in the world right now. But of all time is a very big call.

 

[Jarquis]

I don't rate Pollock's ODI batting at all, while we're at it.

Reasoning?

 

[G.I.Joe]

Reasoning?

Didn't turn enough games solely with the bat, from my recollection. I don't have an analysis to back it up, it's just the lasting impression I have of him as an ODI batsman.

 

[Shri]

Klusener > Watson. Different roles and all that but liked Klusener's style better.

 

[Jono]

Viv's allround stats nothing to sneeze at:

Is Vivian Richards the most effective ODI player? | Regulars | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[benchmark00]

Adam Gilchrist is.

 

[unam]

Needs more time. for some reason I don't rate his bowling and always think of him as sixth bowler, more like a batsman who can bowl.

 

[Days of Grace]

Watson
Gilchrist (wk)
Ponting
Chappell
Hussey
Symonds
Bevan
Warne
Lee
Lillee
McGrath


??? Harsh on Mark Waugh to make way for Watson, but even at this stage, I'd say Watson offers more for that team than the younger Waugh twin would.

 

[benchmark00]

Need three openers in one dayers these days (H)

 

[Jono]

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

[uvelocity]

Need three openers in one dayers these days (H)

pontings an opener

 

[honestbharani]

I agree completely

















simply because I have him in my Test-ODI combination draft..


As a matter of fact, I think he is the greatest ever test player too.. Screw 99.94!!!

 

[Prince EWS]

I've always been a huge fan, but certainly not yet. He's on the way though.

 

[ankitj]

I've always been a huge fan, but certainly not yet. He's on the way though.

Did you make an all time ODI XI with your artificial intelligence?

 

[Prince EWS]

Did you make an all time ODI XI with your artificial intelligence?

Still working on it. It'd be easy as piss if I didn't take strike rate or economy rate into account (I'd just need to change two lines of code..) but I want to do it properly.