Shane Watson?

[chaminda_00]

His improvement with the ball in recent times suggests he can be more than a part-time bowler, I think. We'll see how he goes in the tests, but I think he's an actual threat with the ball now. Either way, if he averages 40 with the bat and takes the odd wicket, that's good enough to be of significant use to the side.

I never said he was going to be a part timer, there is growing number of specialist bowlers averaging around 35 and their not all from Bangladesh or even Sri Lanka.

 

[Golaxi]

well at least you've finnally got rid of lespy and kaspa. should actually have some competition now : D

 

[Nate]

Watson needs to make sure he knows his place in the side IMO. He needs to make it as a batsman with his bowling being an added bonus. People who think he should only play when MacGill plays should think again I reckon. If picked, his primary position will be as a batsman. His bowling should be nothing than good back-up if one of the specialist bowlers is getting tonked or is tired.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Watson needs to make sure he knows his place in the side IMO. He needs to make it as a batsman with his bowling being an added bonus. People who think he should only play when MacGill plays should think again I reckon. If picked, his primary position will be as a batsman. His bowling should be nothing than good back-up if one of the specialist bowlers is getting tonked or is tired.

I think he does know that, but on the same token, if he can also be a threat with the ball it vastly increases his value, and takes a bit of pressure off with the bat. It's fairly unlikely that Watson would ever have gotten a go in either form of the game if he couldn't bowl, as there's simply more prolific batsmen around in Australian domestic cricket. Because of that, if he comes into the team and say averages 35-40 with the bat but bowls like he was before last summer, he'd find himself dropped again pretty promptly in favour of someone like Clarke or Jaques. Throw in the odd wicket and some fairly accurate stuff with the ball though and that 35-40 average looks a lot better.

His recent record in ODIs is quite remarkable with the ball though, so he's certainly heading in the right direction. He has only one wicketless match in his last 14 ODIs, which was one where he only bowled two overs, and he has 27 wickets @ 18.59 in those games. I think it's fair to say that it can't be a fluke any more.

 

[Nate]

Duh Fred. Obviously he`ll have more chance to retain his spot if he bowls well, my arguement is that he should be picked regardless of who the specialist bowlers are.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Duh Fred. Obviously he`ll have more chance to retain his spot if he bowls well, my arguement is that he should be picked regardless of who the specialist bowlers are.

Yep, I agree with that, and I think he'll play all five tests. I do think though that it still relies on his bowling to a significant degree, and that's why he'll get the chance. The advantages of a five man attack are obvious, especially with McGrath and Warne getting on, and that'd be the motivation for picking him whether it's with a second spinner or not.

 

[Matt79]

Yep, he should be picked regardless of whether MacGill or a third seemer is picked. and he should be banking on bowling every innings at some point. If he can't be at least somewhat penetrative with his bowling he shouldn't be in the team - there are better bats. But if he can bowl 10 quick, hostile overs an innnings which either produce a wicket, or else put the batsmen under the a reasonable level of pressure, that produces a whole lot of benefits for the team - most notably letting McGrath and particularly Lee perform shorter spells as strike, rather than stock bowlers... and the fifth bowler will be more important once Warne and McGrath go and replacements like Cullen and Johnson/Clark/whoever might not have the same ability to bowl all day.

He seems the kind of player who needs to know his role in the team,and his place in the team are secure, long term, to produce his best.

 

[tadeusz]

He will do better batting up the order.

 

[tadeusz]

I should justify this opinion by saying he bats at four for Queensland and does alright and his record batting up in the odis is better than his middle-order record.

 

[tadeusz]

I should justify this opinion by saying he bats at four for Queensland and does alright and his record batting up in the odis is better than his middle-order record.

 

[Matt79]

but who moves down the order for him? Some established test batsman? He should count his blessings the #6 slot is available at all.

 

[archie mac]

but who moves down the order for him? Some established test batsman? He should count his blessings the #6 slot is available at all.

Yes I think No6 is his spot, but what about Gilly at 6 and Watson at 7?

The only time Gilly looked the goods last Ashes he was left stranded on 49

 

[albo97056]

his batting is not world class but he will make a reasonable no7/8 and his bowling i rate very highly

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha, he's a better batsmen than a bowler. Far out.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Yes I think No6 is his spot, but what about Gilly at 6 and Watson at 7?

The only time Gilly looked the goods last Ashes he was left stranded on 49

Watson would be left stranded on 10 in the same situation. Gilly can at least tee off with the tail and make some quick runs, Watson needs to build an innings and that is difficult to do with the value the likes of Warne puts on his wicket.

 

[archie mac]

Watson would be left stranded on 10 in the same situation. Gilly can at least tee off with the tail and make some quick runs, Watson needs to build an innings and that is difficult to do with the value the likes of Warne puts on his wicket.

Yes good point that, we will have to wait and see

I noticed on the tele today they were saying Watson was as good as over the line as far as selection for the first Test, and that he would be Australias answer to Freddie

 

[Matt79]

Watson would be left stranded on 10 in the same situation. Gilly can at least tee off with the tail and make some quick runs, Watson needs to build an innings and that is difficult to do with the value the likes of Warne puts on his wicket.

IIRC Warne made 90 odd last year when he was actually needed to stick around for a while - I think he can place a high value on his wicket, but generally doesn't see the need when he normally comes in at 6 for 350+

 

[tooextracool]

Nah, Chris Cairns was a true all-rounder and i don't think he was good enough to merit a spot for either batting or bowling seperately.

You are joking right? Name me one NZ bowler in all of the 90s who could claim to be a better bowler than Chris Cairns? And id also love to hear how many batsmen other than Fleming and Astle(and for a short period Twose/Richardson) could claim to be in the side ahead of Chris Cairns in the batting department?
Chris Cairns wasnt world class in either discipline, but for NZ he could have walked into the side with his eyes closed even if he could only perform one of them. His record post 95 with both bat and ball is infinetly superior to what it was before. And it would probably have only been better if he didnt get injured every 3rd game.

Watson is defintely an all rounder imo. Anyone who averages 50 and can bowl 140+(regardless of movement) is an all roubnder.

Yes in domestic cricket, its certainly not quite that simple in international cricket. It should also be pointed out that Watson has unsurprisingly been rubbish with the ball for the last 4 seasons in FC cricket, certainly at the moment hes nothing more than a part timer with the ball. He might have the potential to change it in the future, but he certainly doesnt possess the ability at the moment to call himself anything other than a decent fast bowler in any form of the game.

 

[tooextracool]

I see your point about a poor man's Kallis though, especially in tests. ODI's Watson looks to have found a spark though.

Has anyone noticed the improvement in Kallis' bowling off late? Ok so he still doesnt bowl many overs, but when he does come on hes usually bowling at a brisk pace and hes certainly bowling much better than he has been over the last few years. Certainly if he bowled more he could still be a handful.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Has anyone noticed the improvement in Kallis' bowling off late? Ok so he still doesnt bowl many overs, but when he does come on hes usually bowling at a brisk pace and hes certainly bowling much better than he has been over the last few years. Certainly if he bowled more he could still be a handful.

Yeah, actually I first noticed it when Australia were playing in South Africa. He was actually quite good in that series with the ball and was always a wicket taking threat, especially getting some reverse with the older ball. Definitely the best I've seen him bowl since around 2001 or so.