Watson is no Freddie
April 6th 2007 04:22
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has been seen as a budding superstar in the game, yet has disappointed due in main to recurring injury problems.
25-year-old Watson is seen as Australia’s big hope as the pivotal all-rounder- remarkably a position that has been lacking in the Aussie team for four decades. The Queenslander has undeniable talent however has succumbed far too often to injury and I believe is vastly overrated.
Watson missed the last world cup in South Africa due to injury and was not required as the green and gold romped home to cup glory going through the tournament undefeated. After Australia were humbled by the great Andrew Flintoff in the 2005 Ashes series, the selectors in desperation turned to Watson in the hope the young talent could do a ‘Freddie’ like impersonation.
Picked in the ‘Super Test’ against the World XI and then the 1st Test against the West Indies, Watson was a reasonable success before a shoulder injury sustained in the field ruled him out for the entire summer.
On resumption from injury, Watson starred in the Pura Cup Final scoring an unbeaten 201 but suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the tour of Bangladesh.
Fit and firing after a winter of full training, Watson performed well in the tri-series in Malaysia and starred in the Champions trophy in India. Elevated to opener Watson surprisingly demonstrated a suitably solid technique to counter the hard ball, as well as showing the ability to hit boundaries in the crucial opening ten overs.
With the ball Watson seemed to show better versatility, incorporating clever slower balls to his repertoire. He was set for a huge summer, including playing a pivotal role in the series to end all series, the Ashes.
Here was a perfect chance for Watson to help win back the Ashes and prove he was going to be the Aussie answer to Flintoff. However just a week before the series, playing for Queensland in a one-day match against Western Australia at the WACA, Watson injured his hamstring which proved worse than first thought.
The all-rounder was ruled out of action for the entire Ashes series and did not make a comeback until the one-day finals series against England in February. The Australian team clearly did not miss Watson, as they demoralised the hapless tourists 5-0 in the most one-sided Ashes contest since 1920-21.
Missing the Ashes was perhaps the biggest blow of all for the beleaguered Watson however there was always the world cup to at least salvage some lost glory. With Matthew Hayden cementing the opener’s role in Watson’s absence, the all-rounder found himself back down to his customary number 7.
Watson has proved to be handy down there in the latter overs demonstrating an ability to clear the boundaries. His bowling has not been as convincing but is obviously needed to provide balance.
But his latest setback looks to derail another important phase in the player who has been dubbed by virtually every current Australian player to be the next superstar. Watson certainly has been unlucky with injury, and there is evidence that his hulking frame seems to contributing to his problems.
However let’s not dilute ourselves. Watson will never be another Freddie. Yes he is a handy one-day player even his bowling seems to hold up in the shorter form the game. But Watson is not a quality all-rounder in the longer form of the game. His batting is probably good enough at 6 or 7 but his bowling will not regularly trouble quality batsmen.
Comparing Watson to Freddie in the longer form of the game is folly and has been hyped up because the Australian side is looking for a new star following the retirements and pending departures of their greats.
Watson needs to demonstrate his ability to stay fit to even consider being a permanent member of the team and I believe his availability is not really that integral as Australia will win the world cup regardless if their budding star plays or not.
25-year-old Watson is seen as Australia’s big hope as the pivotal all-rounder- remarkably a position that has been lacking in the Aussie team for four decades. The Queenslander has undeniable talent however has succumbed far too often to injury and I believe is vastly overrated.
Watson missed the last world cup in South Africa due to injury and was not required as the green and gold romped home to cup glory going through the tournament undefeated. After Australia were humbled by the great Andrew Flintoff in the 2005 Ashes series, the selectors in desperation turned to Watson in the hope the young talent could do a ‘Freddie’ like impersonation.
(Injured again)
Picked in the ‘Super Test’ against the World XI and then the 1st Test against the West Indies, Watson was a reasonable success before a shoulder injury sustained in the field ruled him out for the entire summer.
On resumption from injury, Watson starred in the Pura Cup Final scoring an unbeaten 201 but suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the tour of Bangladesh.
Fit and firing after a winter of full training, Watson performed well in the tri-series in Malaysia and starred in the Champions trophy in India. Elevated to opener Watson surprisingly demonstrated a suitably solid technique to counter the hard ball, as well as showing the ability to hit boundaries in the crucial opening ten overs.
With the ball Watson seemed to show better versatility, incorporating clever slower balls to his repertoire. He was set for a huge summer, including playing a pivotal role in the series to end all series, the Ashes.
Here was a perfect chance for Watson to help win back the Ashes and prove he was going to be the Aussie answer to Flintoff. However just a week before the series, playing for Queensland in a one-day match against Western Australia at the WACA, Watson injured his hamstring which proved worse than first thought.
The all-rounder was ruled out of action for the entire Ashes series and did not make a comeback until the one-day finals series against England in February. The Australian team clearly did not miss Watson, as they demoralised the hapless tourists 5-0 in the most one-sided Ashes contest since 1920-21.
Missing the Ashes was perhaps the biggest blow of all for the beleaguered Watson however there was always the world cup to at least salvage some lost glory. With Matthew Hayden cementing the opener’s role in Watson’s absence, the all-rounder found himself back down to his customary number 7.
Watson has proved to be handy down there in the latter overs demonstrating an ability to clear the boundaries. His bowling has not been as convincing but is obviously needed to provide balance.
But his latest setback looks to derail another important phase in the player who has been dubbed by virtually every current Australian player to be the next superstar. Watson certainly has been unlucky with injury, and there is evidence that his hulking frame seems to contributing to his problems.
However let’s not dilute ourselves. Watson will never be another Freddie. Yes he is a handy one-day player even his bowling seems to hold up in the shorter form the game. But Watson is not a quality all-rounder in the longer form of the game. His batting is probably good enough at 6 or 7 but his bowling will not regularly trouble quality batsmen.
Comparing Watson to Freddie in the longer form of the game is folly and has been hyped up because the Australian side is looking for a new star following the retirements and pending departures of their greats.
Watson needs to demonstrate his ability to stay fit to even consider being a permanent member of the team and I believe his availability is not really that integral as Australia will win the world cup regardless if their budding star plays or not.
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