Watson wants to open the batting

[The Baconator]

Watson to open batting

 

[Tim]

Watson's a joke...I can't believe Australia of all teams allowed him to open. Australia were probably thought to be the last team to try make-shift openers over specialists. There's no need to put him up there when they have Jacques, Katich and Hayden.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Can Jaques, Katich or Hayden provide another good seam bowling option allowing Australia to play Brad Hogg more often?

 

[Tim]

Well ok then, if you want poor batting starts...then i'm sure the rest of us won't be complaining

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

The fact that he played a poor shot yesterday proves nothing. Everybody plays a poor shot now and then. Even Ponting did, who is arguably the best batsman in the world at the moment. I fail to see after one bad shot a guy can be classified as useless.

 

[Tim]

I never said he was useless, although I admit I probably should have phrased it as "Watson's a joke to open the innings"

I just get the feeling that teams will be eyeing him as an early wicket. Everytime I have seen him bat he looks as though he could go out cheaply. Compared to someone like Hayden who I thought didn't give a stuff about who he was facing and never ever looked intimidated against any bowler.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Watson has one of the best techniques against the fast men in the Australian side, as well as having a solid mental side to his game, and I can see him being successful opening the innings if given a decent run. Despite that, I still think Jaques should open and Martyn should make way for Watson at 4, which I see as his ideal batting position in the Australian OD (considering he's never going to take the #3 spot), but it's doesn't seem like it's going to happen soon.

I'm quite happy for Watson to open the innings for Australia, at least until they drop Martyn. One thing he does need to do is turn those graceful looking 70's into 120's and 130's if he's going to open the innings.

 

[pietersenrocks]

I think Katich will be the better option 'coz he is a solid player and Gilchrist is very fast so it will be a good combination.

 

[open365]

I think Katich will be the better option 'coz he is a solid player and Gilchrist is very fast so it will be a good combination.

Why not just have Jaques/Hayden and Gilchrist?

3 players who imo coual all average higher and have a better strike rate than Katich.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The problem arises though if Australia bats 2nd... if he's bowled 10 overs his batting is definetly going to suffer. IMO he's best suited at 4, this way he can still effectively juggle batting & bowling without 1 having to much of an impact on the other.

Opening may work when batting 1st, for the reason the DCYE pointed out above, but i see it being a dilema when we bat second.

And if Australia bat second and he's bowled 10, just let someone else open. You have to have flexibility with your batting lineup.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Yeah if he's bowled ten in hot conditions or something, throw Hussey or Clarke in. Clarke's scored runs up there and Hussey's an opener at heart.

 

[Mr Casson]

Watson has one of the best techniques against the fast men in the Australian side, as well as having a solid mental side to his game, and I can see him being successful opening the innings if given a decent run.

Unless Watson has changed majorly since I last saw him score big, he's actually miles better against spin bowling.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

He's pretty much looked at sea against quality spin bowling early on in his innings, as far as I've seen.

 

[Mr Casson]

He's done the job at domestic level, only needs to take the step up.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Murali made him look like a child in the super test. I've no doubt in his ability, and am one of his biggest supporters, but it's common knowledge to most people who've seen him play at domestic and international level that his batting technique is geared for pace bowling. There's no doubt he can play spin, but quality spinner have opened him up before and he'd be better not seeing it until he has had a few balls under his belt.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah, he's certainly far more vulnerable against spin. Murali at the SCG is a fair introduction to test cricket mind you, but he was in terrible shape there. I don't think someone like Monty is going to dominate him, but if Watson does get his test career going the first trip to the subcontinent will be a big test.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Wasn't his debut, IIRC. Thought that was against Pakistan at the SCG a few years back.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Wasn't his debut, IIRC. Thought that was against Pakistan at the SCG a few years back.

Yeah, I know. I didn't mean his debut, just that he was still starting out in test cricket.

 

[Mr Casson]

Still a wee bit unfair to be judging him against Murali, tons have struggled against him.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

That's right, ignore the rest of my post. At least tell me how his technique is made for spin bowling more than pace.