Shane Watson - The Way Forward
With the Ashes fast approaching, there will be much speculation surrounding the composition of the Australian Team. Will Michael Clarke play? Will it be Andrew Symonds or will they give Shane Watson another go? All three of these men will be fighting for the number 6 spot in the batting line. This spot is one of the most pivotal positions in the team and in my eyes it should be the spot reserved for an all rounder.
In the past we have seen the likes of Ian Botham and Chris Cairns occupy this position for this country. More recently it has been Andrew Flintoff, Dwayne Bravo and Jacob Oram. Australia hasn't been able to find this all rounder until now. Symonds was given a chance but he failed to take it, even though he was in superb form in the One Day game in that same period. Michael Clarke is a batsman who was also given his chance but failed to go on with it and in my eyes should have to wait till one of the incumbent batsman retire, or are dropped and free up a spot in the middle order.
The man who hasn't been given an extended stint is Shane Watson. He is a talent player who has always been held back by injury. He bowls at over 140km/h, and bats in the upper order for his state Queensland, the most successful team in the domestic Pura Cup. His recent form in the Top End tournament between the A teams of Australia India Pakistan and News Zealand was nothing short of superb. He scored runs and took wickets at will and that could be the perfect build up for a big Ashes series for him. Some people out there have written him off already based on his previous performances on the international arena, but I believe that given a bit of time and stability, the lad will be prove his worth. He has the makings of the next Andrew Flintoff.
Lets not forget that it took Andrew Flintoff around four years to get to the position which he is in now and during that time many people were calling for his head but the selectors persisted with him and look what they reaped as their reward.
All good things take time and I am sure the same will apply in regards to Shane Watson
In the past we have seen the likes of Ian Botham and Chris Cairns occupy this position for this country. More recently it has been Andrew Flintoff, Dwayne Bravo and Jacob Oram. Australia hasn't been able to find this all rounder until now. Symonds was given a chance but he failed to take it, even though he was in superb form in the One Day game in that same period. Michael Clarke is a batsman who was also given his chance but failed to go on with it and in my eyes should have to wait till one of the incumbent batsman retire, or are dropped and free up a spot in the middle order.
The man who hasn't been given an extended stint is Shane Watson. He is a talent player who has always been held back by injury. He bowls at over 140km/h, and bats in the upper order for his state Queensland, the most successful team in the domestic Pura Cup. His recent form in the Top End tournament between the A teams of Australia India Pakistan and News Zealand was nothing short of superb. He scored runs and took wickets at will and that could be the perfect build up for a big Ashes series for him. Some people out there have written him off already based on his previous performances on the international arena, but I believe that given a bit of time and stability, the lad will be prove his worth. He has the makings of the next Andrew Flintoff.
Lets not forget that it took Andrew Flintoff around four years to get to the position which he is in now and during that time many people were calling for his head but the selectors persisted with him and look what they reaped as their reward.
All good things take time and I am sure the same will apply in regards to Shane Watson
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