The figures
2003/04 Pura Cup
8 matches , 15 innings , 819 runs@58.5 , 3x100 , 3x50 , high score - 157 , 8 catches.
2 wickets@52
First Class Carear
25 matches , 43 innings , 1738 runs@45.73 , 5x100 , 10x50 , hs - 157 , 12 catches.
51 wickets@26.43 , SR - 43.2 , eco - 3.66 , best - 6/32 , 2x5wi , 1x10wm.
His batting has just gone to another level this season after the work at the academy during winter , with this recent form its just a matter of time before he's back in Australian colours once more.......the question is which form of the game he should be picked in.
Now Im of the firm beleif , and have been since I first saw him play , that Watson will make an average ODI player at best , but would be an outstanding test prospect.
His game is clearly more suited to the longer form , with the bat he is over reliant on boundaries , not the greatest when it comes to working the ball around for 1's & 2's , he needs a bit of time to play himself in at the start of an innings , cant just go out there & swing from ball 1.
Now that sort of player is never going to acheive a huge amount of success with the bat in ODI's unless they are consistently batting in the first 15 overs (ala Hayden).
However the patience & ability to kick on with the starts once set are traits of a top flight test batsman.
With the ball he is not as wayward as his ODI & FC records would suggest , its just that his bowling lacks variety.
He is quick , but not quick enough to scare them , swings the new ball away from right handers & the old ball into them (this is something Ive noticed seems to come naturally to him , its a huge advantage) & he is capable of bowling a tight line.
Its just that he is very skiddy (with his flatter trajectory) & tends to be a bit one paced & predictable with the ball , which means when batsman get their eyes in they can whack him over the top & he can go for plenty in quick time , this has already happened a couple of times in his ODI carear.
He's great in the feild , very good under the helmet at short leg & has one of the strongest arms in the country.
IMO he's a victim of the generalisation that allrounders are better suited to the shorter form of the game , despite the fact that a glance at his record , or just watching him bat , reveals that test cricket is his go.
Now that he's bowling again & making runs like there's no tomorrow the temptation must be there to slot him into the test side.
I see both sides of the coin here , he's young , enthusiastic , the sides getting old & he's making the runs , so lets get him in there now while the team is winning & we've got the positive culture happening.
But also the viewpoint of , Love , Hussey , Hussey jnr , Hodge , Lehmann are all making the runs at the same rate & have been doing so consistently for years , they deserve the chance more.
Now I realise that just ATM he isnt back to 100% pace with the ball , so chucking him in at 6 for the tests in SRL would be foolish.
But long term his potential value to the side as a middle order batsman / 3rd or 4th seamer is massive.
He would allow us to play 2 spinners & 5 bowlers in all conditions without harming the batting.
For me he's ahead of Clarke ATM in the que for test selection as he's piling em on at domestic level , his bowling , age & feilding are a bonus.
What are your thoughts?
2003/04 Pura Cup
8 matches , 15 innings , 819 runs@58.5 , 3x100 , 3x50 , high score - 157 , 8 catches.
2 wickets@52
First Class Carear
25 matches , 43 innings , 1738 runs@45.73 , 5x100 , 10x50 , hs - 157 , 12 catches.
51 wickets@26.43 , SR - 43.2 , eco - 3.66 , best - 6/32 , 2x5wi , 1x10wm.
His batting has just gone to another level this season after the work at the academy during winter , with this recent form its just a matter of time before he's back in Australian colours once more.......the question is which form of the game he should be picked in.
Now Im of the firm beleif , and have been since I first saw him play , that Watson will make an average ODI player at best , but would be an outstanding test prospect.
His game is clearly more suited to the longer form , with the bat he is over reliant on boundaries , not the greatest when it comes to working the ball around for 1's & 2's , he needs a bit of time to play himself in at the start of an innings , cant just go out there & swing from ball 1.
Now that sort of player is never going to acheive a huge amount of success with the bat in ODI's unless they are consistently batting in the first 15 overs (ala Hayden).
However the patience & ability to kick on with the starts once set are traits of a top flight test batsman.
With the ball he is not as wayward as his ODI & FC records would suggest , its just that his bowling lacks variety.
He is quick , but not quick enough to scare them , swings the new ball away from right handers & the old ball into them (this is something Ive noticed seems to come naturally to him , its a huge advantage) & he is capable of bowling a tight line.
Its just that he is very skiddy (with his flatter trajectory) & tends to be a bit one paced & predictable with the ball , which means when batsman get their eyes in they can whack him over the top & he can go for plenty in quick time , this has already happened a couple of times in his ODI carear.
He's great in the feild , very good under the helmet at short leg & has one of the strongest arms in the country.
IMO he's a victim of the generalisation that allrounders are better suited to the shorter form of the game , despite the fact that a glance at his record , or just watching him bat , reveals that test cricket is his go.
Now that he's bowling again & making runs like there's no tomorrow the temptation must be there to slot him into the test side.
I see both sides of the coin here , he's young , enthusiastic , the sides getting old & he's making the runs , so lets get him in there now while the team is winning & we've got the positive culture happening.
But also the viewpoint of , Love , Hussey , Hussey jnr , Hodge , Lehmann are all making the runs at the same rate & have been doing so consistently for years , they deserve the chance more.
Now I realise that just ATM he isnt back to 100% pace with the ball , so chucking him in at 6 for the tests in SRL would be foolish.
But long term his potential value to the side as a middle order batsman / 3rd or 4th seamer is massive.
He would allow us to play 2 spinners & 5 bowlers in all conditions without harming the batting.
For me he's ahead of Clarke ATM in the que for test selection as he's piling em on at domestic level , his bowling , age & feilding are a bonus.
What are your thoughts?
