Shane Watson: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s match winning all-rounder
Shane Watson is a tremendously talented Australian opener and an incredibly handy bowler with the weapons of pace and late movement. This package makes him one of the most valuable players in the world, even before taking into account his sharp fielding.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Queensland-c834 born 29-year-old player is a genuine match winner with his abilities of making big scores and taking wickets. The right-handed all-rounder is an excellent shot-maker who is aggressive but responsible. Australia will need a great performance
from Watson, as they take on the world’s best teams in the ICC World Cup 2011.
Watson made his first-class debut for the Tasmanian Tigers, but with the beginning of international career, he returned to his native Queensland Bulls. He has also captained the Queensland Under-14 and Australia Under-19 sides. Watson started wearing the
national colors in 2002 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and shortly after his One Day International debut he became an integral and regular part of the Australian side.
Watson played his first Test match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in 2005 and picked up 5 wickets. By the time he had played 15 test matches, his career average was nearly 4 wickets per test. However, injuries did not allow him to claim a regular place in the Test team.
He was pinch hitter at the start of his career, but with the passage of time, he became a conventional batsman rather than a bowler who engaged in power hitting in the latter part of an innings. Watson played as opener for the first time at the ICC Champions
Trophy 2006 with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Gilchrist-c918 and slowly improved himself as effective as Mark Waugh at the top of the order. He is a powerful and dangerous hitter, who does the most damage with his drives and pulls.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326’s has the ability to bowl reverse-swing at a sharp pace, restricting the opposition batsman. He is a confident player who believes in himself and once he is in form he can be almost impossible to stop.
Watson has scored 3353 runs in One Day International cricket, notching his highest score 161 not out against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013. He has also showed his class with the ball, with 127 wickets in 123 ODI’s. Since January 2009, Watson has scored 2090 runs at an average
of 45.43 with 4 centuries and 12 fifties.
Back stress fractures stopped him from taking part in 2003 and injuries also threatened his 2007 campaign. However, he overcame a mid-tournament calf problem to pile up 145 runs at a strike-rate of 170, and was only dismissed once. His run-out of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887
in the group stage is still talked about.
The Australian all-rounder has some ‘big shoes to fill’ at the World Cup. Watson has emerged as one of Australia's key players, as the side look to win their 4th successive World Cup. The player, who was recently awarded his second successive Allan Border
Medal as the best player in Australian cricket for the past 12 months, is looking forward to the task ahead.
The team will be expecting great things for Watson with both the bat and the ball. His Indian Premier League experience will help him adjust to the Subcontinent conditions of low and slow flat pitches. He will have to take his game to the next level if Australia
is to have any chance in the tournament. Watson understands his responsibility and the enormous task at hand, as he will be focused on taking early wickets with the ball and staying at the crease with the bat.
It will be interesting to see how Watson steps up to the challenge and gives a positive contribution to the Australian side as they seek to lift the trophy for another time.
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