Shane Watson - is he the answer?

[GoEagles]

He seems very raw for International Cricket - hardly played any games for Tasmania in the domestic competition, although the 2 other contenders for his position Harvey and Symonds haven't stepped up as a solid All-Rounder when required.

Should the selectors stick with him over the Summer ODI's or see how Harvey and Symonds shape up in the ING Cup games?

 

[SeinDude]

I think the Australian selectors will give Shane Watson every opportunity to show what he is capable of in the one-day matches this summer, along with Ian Harvey.

In my opinion, conditions over in South Africa will suit a medium pace bowler as the 5th bowling option, and we know Harvey can more than hold down that bowling position but his batting hasn't measured up when he's been given the opportunity so far for Australia.

Shane Watson on the other hand is only still young, and from what I've seen of his batting, it looks very promising, but his bowling needs working on.

Cheers!!
SeinDude

 

[Joe Mama]

NO.

 

[Groucho]

He'll never cut it as a bowler in one day internationals. Could be a useful test player though.

 

[jefffff34]

Originally posted by SeinDude
In my opinion, conditions over in South Africa will suit a medium pace bowler as the 5th bowling option, and we know Harvey can more than hold down that bowling position but his batting hasn't measured up when he's been given the opportunity so far for Australia.

What chance with the bat? He has batted top 6 11 times in his career which means he is only coming in when there are 10 or so overs left and he has to smack the crap out of the ball even though his eye isn't in.

Here are his year by year figures as well which show he is improving all the time (take away this year through bad form)

1997 (age: 24y 266d) 4 3 0 8 4 3 1 2.66 0 0 0
1998 (25y 266d) 7 6 2 93 43 27* 11 23.25 0 0 0
2000 (27y 266d) 8 7 2 101 38 25 19 20.20 0 0 1
2001 (28y 266d) 16 9 4 161 47* 37 25* 32.20 0 0 1
2002 (29y 266d) 8 7 0 66 19 14 12 9.42 0 0 0

(matches, innings, not outs, runs, top 3 hs, average, 100, 50, 0's.)

 

[RoosLuver]

Originally posted by Seindude

I think the Australian selectors will give Shane Watson every opportunity to show what he is capable of in the one-day matches this summer

I think they will too, i cant see the selectors "dropping" him. Then again, i have been wrong!

 

[Richmondfan#1]

The selectors will keep him in there, I'm predicting he won't do all that well though.

 

[Briedis]

I'm not confident when he gets the ball or comes out to bat. But he is worth persevering with if the selectors believe he has the goods, we need a quality all-rounder.

Who was the last quality all-rounder Australia had? O'Donnell? We used to have a few in the 50's and 60's, but nothing really since then....

 

[larrikin]

What other hope have we got?

The guy obviously has supreme talent. His bowling needs more discipline, and you can't read much into his batting based on where he has come in for the Aussies. He's shown enough at state and tour level to suggest his pedigree.

I hope he makes the test team soon (move Martyn to 4 when M. Waugh leaves and bat him at 6 or 7).

He needs some time in the job without the presuure of one failure meaning a trip back to Tas.

 

[BT]

Originally posted by Groucho
He'll never cut it as a bowler in one day internationals. Could be a useful test player though.

Agreed.

I hope they give him another go because who else is there?

We need a bowler who can bat, not the other way around.

Julian,Nicholson,Lee have all shown promise but didn't make it.

 

[dogs105]

What was the question?

 

[Darky]

Time will tell if Watson's the answer, but there aren't any other putting their hand up.

The last three all-rounders Australia has tried, have failed.

Symonds was a batsman who took wickets but couldn't make runs, and Shane Lee and Ian Harvey were all-rounders in the sense they couldn't bat OR bowl at the highest level.

Watson's had only limited one-day experience for Tasmania, and his record isn't flash, but in the four-day game he is selected as a true all-rounder... one that can hold his place in the side on his batting or bowling alone (averages of about 45 and 25 attest to this). I think that's probably his key asset, and why he was promoted to the national team.

He is also 6-8 years younger than the other three who have tried and failed before him, so you'd think he'd have more improvement left in him.

 

[msfc_28]

I have to agree In perspective Shane Watson Is a very younge talent. The selecters have given him a goe but people souldn't depend on him to much .

 

[SeinDude]

Originally posted by Hoggy
What chance with the bat? He has batted top 6 11 times in his career which means he is only coming in when there are 10 or so overs left and he has to smack the crap out of the ball even though his eye isn't in.

Here are his year by year figures as well which show he is improving all the time (take away this year through bad form)

1997 (age: 24y 266d) 4 3 0 8 4 3 1 2.66 0 0 0
1998 (25y 266d) 7 6 2 93 43 27* 11 23.25 0 0 0
2000 (27y 266d) 8 7 2 101 38 25 19 20.20 0 0 1
2001 (28y 266d) 16 9 4 161 47* 37 25* 32.20 0 0 1
2002 (29y 266d) 8 7 0 66 19 14 12 9.42 0 0 0

(matches, innings, not outs, runs, top 3 hs, average, 100, 50, 0's.)

Hoggy,

I agree with you. I think Ian Harvey is a very talented cricketer who should be given a licence with the bat regardless of the situation. That is when he plays his natural game.

Cheers!!
SeinDude