Shane Watson: A Test career that never quite materialized

Shane Watson: A Test career that never quite materialized: Not many would represent their national sides in 59 cricket matches in the whites if they end up averaging 35. But Shane Robert Watson had that luxury. And the reasons are obvious. He had the potential to be an aggressive top order batsman who was more than handy with the ball. Infact at one point of time he was the first one, Australian skippers looked up to when it came to breaking a partnership. And yet it was a career that never materialized into substantial match winning performances. Technical shortcomings and frequent injuries hampered his progress as a cricketer and Watson never became a secured possessor of the coveted ‘baggy green’. Thus his decision to retire from Test cricket did not surprise many. With increasing competition and selectors starting to look ahead Watto, as he is popularly called was effectively left with no other choice.

This in a way might also help him to prolong his ODI career, a format he always enjoyed more. It is no rocket science that Watson’s style of play suits the shorter formats. If given an option to resurrect his side from 30-3 on a green pitch in a Test and play a counterattacking knock in an ODI under same circumstances, it is anybody’s guess where Watto would lean. The heavy built might make you believe that he is over reliant on big hits but a closer look into his game would reveal different aspects. Equally good on both sides of the wicket, his straight drives are a sight for the cameras. He does not show deliberate aggression, as it comes naturally to him.

Once upon a time, he was Australian cricket’s brightest star – an express bowler with the batting chops to terrify opposition bowling attacks. All that said, his Test career was going nowhere. Watson only reached a half-century 11 times in 62 innings since the start of 2011, while failing to get past single figures 14 times in the same period. Though he was dismissed between 50 and 100 on seven occasions before his first Test ton, when he finally reached that elusive century against Pakistan in 2009, it was followed by a rich vein of batting form in which he averaged 82.71 across eight innings, including scores of 96, 89, 93 and 97. Watson reached his highest Test score in the inconsequential 5^th Test of Ashes 2013 in England belting 176 at The Oval.

Australians have always had a rich tradition of producing high class Test openers and considering the phenomenal success of Hayden and Langer, the expectations were always going to be huge. But much to everybody’s disappointment the swash buckling batter never quite looked fit for opening. While Hayden also being an aggressive opener had the ability to negotiate probing spells, Watson surrendered on this front. His overeagerness to dominate the bowling attack led to his detriment. Different batting positions didn’t quite help either as the bowlers kept finding chinks in his technique. His LBW dismissals off late have been well documented and coaches would use that as a sample to teach kids of how not to play the moving ball. Apologies for sounding sarcastic but that is what it was.

When it came to the limited over formats the prolific all-rounder was at his supreme best. Watson is arguably T20Is most destructive all-round player, while he is indisputably on the shortlist of best ODI performers.

Once the golden boy of Australian cricket, Watson lost his place at the top of the batting order and his bowling, which earned him a total of 75 Test wickets and was once considered essential to the team balance, also lost some of its bite.

Never at ease against spin Watson failed miserably during the 2013 Indian tour and his relations with Test skipper Michael Clarke hit an all time low. It was no secret that Watson and Clarke weren’t exactly friends. After Ricky Ponting’s decision to step down from the captaincy Clarke’s elevation was on expected lines, but being the senior player in the side, it reportedly did not go well with Watson. Differences of opinions between the two boiled over to a point where their interaction was nothing more than a superficial ritual.

Since his 2005 Test debut against Pakistan, regular hamstring and back injuries have taken toll on Watson’s body and his stock has fallen considerably over the last couple of years. His all-round versatility was eroded when he focused on being a specialist batsman. It was a spectacular failure. Australia’s dearth of talented young batsmen prolonged Watson’s career and he escaped hefty public and media criticism because, when on song, his batting was so aesthetically pleasing.

Contoversies, dodgy hamstrings or LBW reviews had become synonymous with the name Shane Watson for the past few years. ‘Homework-gate’, which saw Watson suspended for not finishing a self-review only to return to Captain the team in the fourth Test of the 2013 tour of India, was one of the most bizarre episodes in recent cricket history. Injuries restricted Watson to just 8 Tests in the 4 and a half years after his debut. Finally, when Matthew Hayden retired in early 2009, Watson got a look in as an opener and immediately made his mark. He and Simon Katich were a devastating opening pair and averaged 54.39 in their 28 innings together.

For a cricket fan, there are certain players who embody hope and are continually selected based on their potential. So, Watson kept playing. Despite his failings with the bat. Despite his alleged poor relationship with his captain. Despite his temperamental behaviour. But hope is not always a good thing. Sometimes it is an illusion. In the case of Shane Watson, perhaps it is best for Australian cricket that he will never wears a baggy green again. Attention can now be diverted into cultivating new talent.