Ian Chappell backs Shane Watson – Cricket News Update
Dismissing the “ridiculous” claims that Shane Watson is not a top-six batsman, former Australian great http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Michael-Chappell-c63914 on Thursday said that the hosts need the veteran all-rounder in the side for the second Test against South Africa, commencing at the Adelaide Oval, from November 22, 2012.
Watson, 31, missed the drawn first Test of the three-match series at Gabba with a recurring calf injury, and is a doubtful starter for next week’s Adelaide Test, with the Cricket Australia selectors making it clear that the Queenslander would need to prove his fitness as right-arm medium pace bowler, and will not be considered as a batsman only.
Watson re-aggravated the calf strain, which he had picked up during limited overs tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 in the lead-up to the first Test.
Though he has significantly recovered from the injury and has started batting and running again, the veteran all-rounder will undergo a stern test when he bowls for the first time on Friday.
However, Chappell has said that if the right-handed top order batsman is fit to play, the selectors must pick him for the Adelaide Test regardless of whether he can bowl or not.
"If I'm a selector picking the Australia XI and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558 is not in the best six batsmen, I've been watching a different game," Chappell, a former Test captain and top-order batsman, told the Australian Associated Press today. "If Watson is fit to play and they don't pick him as a batsman, I find that strange. He has proven himself as a batsman," insisted the former great.
The 69-year-old cricketer turned commentator also believes that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 could turn the tables on the hosts.
"http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 can turn that around with their bowling," said Chappell. "You want to pick the best team to give you the best chance to win the game and that means Shane Watson should be there, whether he can bowl or not."
Tags: