Time for a few apologies to Watson

[Tambaran]

Watson has copped a lot on this board. A hell of a lot.

After last night's century, his stats are as follows.

89 ODIS, 71 innings, 1915 runs @ 38.30, S/R 82.15, 89 wickets @ 29.19, e/r 4.78

Those stats are superlative. As a batsman alone he easily makes the team, his bowling is just a genuine bonus.

Beginning to make his mark on the Test side as well.

Some serious apologies are deserved by the bigfella.

 

[HawkieTalkie]

Def not a fan of his "in your face" attitude when he is bowling (mainly as he hasn't really achieved much yet as a bowler consistency-wise so he should shut-up until he has), but as a batsman he looks to have become a bloody good player.

He and Tim Paine compliment each other well in the ODIs, not sure that anything other than an opening position would suit him though, so as far as the Tests are concerned he would have to hope that Jacques and Hughes are 2nd and 3rd choice.

 

[Cotchin 9]

Always been a fan, you star Watto .

 

[Belnakor]

one swallow does not a summer make.

 

[Tambaran]

one swallow does not a summer make.

Stupid cliches do not hide stupidity.

89 ODIs? Hardly one swallow. See you're one of the ones who can't swallow your pride.

 

[Bennycoff]

He's been playing well in ODI cricket for some time now.

 

[dumb]

have watched the odi average creep up from below 30. i was surprised when he opened in the tests but not expecting imminent failure like others.

 

[apollo_creed]

I don't rate him as a bowler.

Good batsman, potentially very good but he's looked a little dodgy at test level, thus far.

 

[Tambaran]

He was our best bowler in India. What that says is debatable.

 

[placebo]

I don't rate him as a bowler.

Good batsman, potentially very good but he's looked a little dodgy at test level, thus far.

Yet he's shown a few times that he can bowl very well.

 

[DaRick]

Well, he's been a very good ODI opener for a while and has been bowling reasonably well in ODI's lately.

I've always been impressed with his batting from a technical standpoint - he just looks good. That being said, his bizarre weakness against the straight ball is something he'd want to iron out.

He has always been very talented, but he probably lacks the durability to become the all-rounder that he has been at state level.

 

[anti_]

dont rate him as a test bowler, therefore he cannot get into the test side with his batting alone.

he's a very handy ODI player though, solid with both bat and ball.

 

[crudbucket]

Don't need to apologise, have never bagged him.

 

[TorresIsGod]

Everyone has bagged Watson at some stage.

 

[mattymac]

for ODIs he's a lock. very impressive yesterday. versatile. i have never rated his bowling but he was good.

needs to work on his attitude. thinks he's the big man to the point you sometimes see him getting pissy with his captain which is a right he hasn't earnt yet. and it affects his game. his bowling fell off markedly yesterday when he started huffing and puffing at bresnan. for a metrosexual type with blonde highlights he should forget the hardguy act. just looks like a knob.

not convinced he deserves a test spot. think he's been shown obvious favouratism by our selectors. don't think he's got the temperament for the long game. straight ball weakness and his bowling is below par at test level. rather play a gun bat like hughesy.

but that was a great ton. decimated collingwood's last over. looked a bit nervy at the start but you could see him feeding off punter's confidence until punter could sit back and watto overtook him and blasted the poms out of the tournament. great to watch.

 

[nobbyiscool]

i don't think people have been questioning his role in ODIs have they? for me, when fit, he's been a certainty since the game in tassie a few years ago now where he bowled the last over.

as i've always said, his batting is good for ODIs and with his change of pace, he's a good bowling option.

but it doesn't change the fact that he isn't a test match player. has not proved he can go on with it with the bat, and without the ability to swing or seam the ball (not to mention how injury prone he is) he's useless as a bowler

 

[Ricketts]

I don't rate him as a bowler.

Definitely good enough for 5 overs as the 6th option though. Any side needs a 6th option to bowl if one of the top 5 choices is getting belted.

As for tests, well he's not required to bowl, and nor should he be.

Go Watto.

 

[1990crow]

very happy to see Watto finally get a complete game out of himself. Saw his bowling early and it fantastic, accurate, probing and beating their top order with ease (missed the edge of the bat about 5 times), rate his bowling. Isn't quick but can create problems, and is therefore a better allrounder than Symonds who was basically a batsmen who bowled offies.
His batting is his strength. Great technique, just see his six against Pakistan a couple of months ago in Dubai. Absolutely the best shot I have ever seen and I have seen some great sixes. Has potential to become one of the best players in the world in my opionon and is starting to show his worth. Just needed his luck with injuries to stop and was always for mine going to play for Australia.

 

[Papa Juggs]

I've never knocked Watson.

He has broken his body for Aussie cricket.

It was a joke that they had to break down a player working so hard trying to get national selection.

Loved his innings with Hussey at the Dome

 

[Tambaran]

dont rate him as a test bowler, therefore he cannot get into the test side with his batting alone.

Erm, again, he was our best bowler in India.

 

[anti_]

Erm, again, he was our best bowler in India.

yet he's been average every other time.

if he can bowl consistently like that, then yes he is valuable. i wouldnt be against him playing test cricket in the upcoming home series (vs W.I.?) as we'll probably win easily anyway and it gives him experience and a real chance to make runs/take wickets.

i would never form a 4-man bowling attack containing shane watson though.

 

[Tambaran]

No, he's a 5th bowling option - 4 quicks + spinner type arrangement.

 

[Bomber Bears]

one swallow does not a summer make.

If you've been hanging out with the selectors it does...

 

[Tambaran]

I believe this thread is, again, entirely relevant.

 

[King Elvis]

I've never knocked Watson.

He has broken his body for Aussie cricket.

It was a joke that they had to break down a player working so hard trying to get national selection.

Loved his innings with Hussey at the Dome

I've said it previously - the only thing preventing him from being the premier All Rounder in the world is the fragility of his body.

I've often wondered whether he's actually in too good a shape; he's a massive unit with respect to shoulder width and muscle - in the past has he been too big (muscle wise) which has put strain on his body?

Regardless, great to see him performing - his frailty is matched by his resilience in the fact he keeps coming back and going again, deserves to have a decent career.