What do you do with Shane Watson?

[Adam H]

Yes. His movement out of the 11 has pleased a lot of others!

He will be back lets just hope its Finch that goes.

 

[eth-dog]

He will be back lets just hope its Finch that goes.

Why would we hope that the leading run scorer in ODI cricket for the past year and a half is the one to go?

 

[Phone]

Watsons spot is opening he has only been moved to please others.

nah that's not true at all. He was moved to 3 in ODers and T20ers shortly after his big ton at 3 at the Oval. Prior to the Ashes he opened up during the Champions Trophy. The move to 3 was clearly because they thought playing him at 3 in all formats would help him or something. The immediate impact of that was that Hughes, who had started 3 in OD cricket and done very well there, was moved to opening.

But seriously, moving one spot down to number 3 really isn't that big a deal anyway. He's been in reasonable early like half the time anyway

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Finch out and Watson to bat were he has batted best for us and that is opening.

Yes lets replace a guy who is averaging 50 odd the last 12 months with a guy averaging 20 odd. The most stupid idea.

 

[the_interloper]

He will be back lets just hope its Finch that goes.

Why the hell would you want Finch out of the side?

 

[eth-dog]

Why the hell would you want Finch out of the side?

Because he's obviously a Collingwood or Bulldogs supporter

 

[philreich]

 

[bird_man]

He will be back lets just hope its Finch that goes.

The only chance he has of getting back is by taking Mitch Marsh's position. They are not going to replace a guy averaging 45 in the last year for a guy averaging low 20's. And don't give that "he was playing out if position". He's not going to double his average from moving up one batting position.

 

[CountryRace]

Watson bats too slow for six

 

[bird_man]

Watson bats too slow for six

He has the same strike rate as Mitch Marsh? Even though he bats higher up the order.

He's also been one of the best T20 players in the world. I can't agree with that.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Watson bats too slow for six

Nope.

 

[eth-dog]

In reality, the best XI is:

Warner
Finch
Smith
Clarke
Bailey
Maxwell
Faulkner
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Cummins/Hazlewood/Doherty

 

[LukeParkerno1]

In reality, the best XI is:

Warner
Finch
Smith
Clarke
Bailey
Maxwell
Faulkner
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Cummins/Hazlewood/Doherty

10 overs out of Maxwell and Clarke, jeez good sides would love that. I always think you absolutely need more bowling options than less. What happens if Maxwell is spanked in his first 4 overs? Clarke to bowl 6 is pushing it.

 

[footyfan1978]

10 overs out of Maxwell and Clarke, jeez good sides would love that. I always think you absolutely need more bowling options than less. What happens if Maxwell is spanked in his first 4 overs? Clarke to bowl 6 is pushing it.

This is why as much as some here will not like it, or get it, Watson is still some chance of playing.
The selectors look like picking 3 genuine pace bowlers each game to cover the main 30 overs of attacking style but then the other 20 overs are if everything goes well, mostly from Faulkner and Maxwell. But I still think the selectors like the option of having Smith and Clarke without actually needing them. If Faulkner or Maxwell are having an off day I tend to think they have more confidence having Watson to bowl than any of Marsh, Smith or Clarke. If they are happy to have part time spinners of Clarke and Smith bowl , well so be it , but at same time probably only want to use them on certain pitch conditions and match situations rather than feel compelled to bowl them.

Marsh and Watson both bowl medium pace but would not be surprised if last two games of Marsh bowling makes them well aware Watson bowling is a little less likely to be a liability. Marsh could be dropped for Watson if they prefer Watson option to bowl as 5th bowler. If they are now super confident that Faulkner and Maxwell can cover the other 20 overs most of the games remaining, then I think Bailey would come back at expense of Marsh to give a bit more stability to middle order.
I think it is 50-50 whether Marsh plays against Sri Lanka. I love his big hitting but he has been playing a role to be in side bowling too and last two games have showed some serious concerns of whether his bowling will be up to the mark against some big sides in knockout stages.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He hardly bowled to be fair against NZ! Can we not entertain bringing Watson back! We worked so hard to get him dropped!

 

[footyfan1978]

He hardly bowled to be fair against NZ!

To be fair. He did not deserve to bowl more. If he actually had bowled well he might have got a few more overs but instead he got hit, just as he did against minnow Afghanistan.

 

[The_Reaper]

I'm not sure why anyone is using the NZ game, where we scored 165 and our opening bowler got 0/68 off like 6 overs, to have a go at Watson's bowling

 

[PaddyO]

In reality, the best XI is:

Warner
Finch
Smith
Clarke
Marsh
Maxwell
Faulkner
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Cummins/Hazlewood/Doherty

EFA

 

[ManWithNoName]

I'm not sure why anyone is using the NZ game, where we scored 165 and our opening bowler got 0/68 off like 6 overs, to have a go at Watson's bowling

Because it suits their argument.

 

[bird_man]

EFA

What does efa mean?

 

[eth-dog]

What does efa mean?

edited for accuracy,

 

[bird_man]

In my opinion Marsh and Watson are still fairly close. Marsh had that one terrific game when he bowled well and got 5 for but besides that his bowling hasn't been fantastic.

He only averages 32, which is the same as Maxwell but Maxwell has an amazing SR.

I'm glad Smith has replaced Watson at 3 but is be open to Watson replacing Marsh at 5 or 6 if Marsh doesn't perform.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

In my opinion Marsh and Watson are still fairly close. Marsh had that one terrific game when he bowled well and got 5 for but besides that his bowling hasn't been fantastic.

He only averages 32, which is the same as Maxwell but Maxwell has an amazing SR.

I'm glad Smith has replaced Watson at 3 but is be open to Watson replacing Marsh at 5 or 6 if Marsh doesn't perform.

Marsh isn't useful at 7. He needs time to play himself in.

 

[bird_man]

Marsh isn't useful at 7. He needs time to play himself in.

Well he's at 6 now, and probably could swap with Maxwell at 5. I just think his spot is still tight with Watson. It may suit Watson coming in late and having a hit, he's been a fantastic T20 player.

 

[footyfan1978]

Well he's at 6 now, and probably could swap with Maxwell at 5. I just think his spot is still tight with Watson. It may suit Watson coming in late and having a hit, he's been a fantastic T20 player.

Depends which way the selectors are thinking. They may both be trumped by Bailey if selectors do not feel they need the option of the extra medium pacer in the eleven. Bailey was just what we needed in first game when Smith, Warner and Watson all went quite cheap. The handy thing with Bailey is he is capable of playing the steadying role or simply hit out in late overs if opportunity presents. Neither Marsh or Watson at this stage can say that. Only good for big hitting in late overs as a role for remainder of World Cup and given we got Maxwell, Haddin and Faulkner ideal for that a flexible bat like Bailey probably could be the last bit needed to batting side of things. I can easily see selectors going either way on this. He was out of form before that game but with decent two warm up hits and that innings against England he is a serious option to still call on.