Shane Watson inspired of late Keith Miller
Australian all-rounder Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 after emulating Australia great Keith Miller with a five wickets haul in innings at the “Home of Cricket” Lord’s - still thinks the legendary all-rounder is an inspiration for him. Keith Miller, a retired fighter pilot, was one of the most captivating names in cricket during the post World War II years.
The all-rounder playing his ever first test at Lord’s took five wickets conceding only 40 runs as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s first innings 253.
Watson, 29, became the ever first cricketer to earn a place on the bowling honours board recently created for the neutral tests played at the “Home of Cricket”, the Lord’s cricket ground. Formerly two Australian batters, Charlie Kelleway and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 about a century ago, in 1912.
The charismatic cricketing name of Post World War II was a dashing all-rounder – a fast bowler as well as an elegant middle-order batsman. The stylish Australian all-rounder piled up his century (109) against the ashes rivals, England during the 1953 Ashes Test. Three years later, Miller in another Ashes clash at Lord’s sacked 10 wickets in one test match, five for 72 in the first innings and 5 for 86 in the second. The legendary all-rounder died in 2004 at the age of 84 but Watson is still inspired of his game. Watson after his five wickets haul against Pakistan in the first innings paid tribute to Miller. While talking to the media reporters on the eve of second day of Lord’s test Watson said that looking at the scoreboard he was thinking of Keith Miller who took ten wickets in a Test match some hundred years ago. The Australian opening batsman said that Miller is a cricketing personality that still inspires him. He further added that it is quite hard for him to imagine that he has gotten his name on the honours board.
"It's my first Test here and looking at the board, seeing that Keith Miller got 10 wickets in a Test match here a number of years ago, he's someone who continues to inspire me. To get my name up on the honours board, unfortunately it wasn't against England, but it's still pretty hard to imagine," said the Queenslander.
Australia’s former leg spinner Shane Warne – one of the greatest bowlers of the international cricket – could never take five wickets in a Test innings at the home of cricket.
The 29-year-old Queenslander’s figures were a bit spoiled by the blazing assault of Boom Boom http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482. The Pakistani captain in his renowned pugnacious style knocked 31 runs off just 15 deliveries. His whirlwind 31 included four boundaries and two sixes. The Lord’s test was Afridi’s first test appearance in the last four years. However the Australians had the last chuckle when the aggressive Pakistani captain was dismissed by Shane Watson.
Watson said that Afridi played his own game, to come out and attack the opposition is Afridi’s famous style. The Australain all-rounder further added that this is the reason that people enjoy his Boom Boom shots but at the same time his aggressive style annoys the cricket fans as well.
"I had no answers for a couple of overs. It was nice he shanked one of my inswingers because he can do some damage. If it really is his day, he can take the game away from you pretty quickly." said the 29 years old all-rounder.
Watson’s name would be emblazoned in the visitors' dressing room next to the board that has names of the players who scored a hundred or took 10 wickets in a match – five wickets in an innings in a Test match against English team at Lord’s cricket ground.
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