Ever since making his international debut in 2002, Shane Watson has been touted as the next big thing in Australian cricket.
Fast-forward five years and the bustling Queenslander has managed three Test caps and 57 one-day appearances in a career which has thus far been blighted by injury and has failed to live up to the hype.
The 25-year-old has averaged just over 32 with the ball and 30.87 with the bat in the one-day arena.
In the wake of the debacle that was the Chappell-Hadlee series for Australia, Watson has come in for some stinging criticism from former Australian coach Bob Simpson.
Simpson, who was a driving force behind Australia’s first World Cup victory in 1987, questioned whether Watson had “the skills or flexibility to cope with cricket at the highest level.”
Watson, who was a surprise selection for the Commonwealth Bank Trophy finals series against England after missing the Ashes series with a right hamstring strain, has struggled upon his return.
In the five games since the first final in Melbourne, Watson has managed 122 runs at an average of 30.50 and taken six wickets at 45.16.
In the recent 3-0 loss to New Zealand Watson returned 76 runs at 38 and five wickets at 34.8
Hardly impressive figures, which has led a number of experts to question the reasoning behind the Queenslander’s selection in the 15-man squad to tour the Caribbean.
However, things need to be put into context.
Fellow all-rounder and Queensland teammate Andrew Symonds mixture of medium-pace and off spin will be missing for at least the early matches as he faces a race against time to recover from a ruptured bicep which sidelined him for the finals against England.
Australia’s next best all-round option Cameron White averages a meagre 22.42 with the bat and 50.25 with the ball, firebrand Brett Lee is sidelined with an ankle injury and veteran Glenn McGrath is struggling for form, having taken four wickets at 55.25 in his last four outings.
The Aussie selectors were left with no option than to include Watson in the squad.
While his return to the international stage has been less than impressive, Simpson’s criticism is unjustified given the amount of cricket the Tasmanian product has missed.
In the time between injuring his right hamstring on the eve of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba and the first one day final in Melbourne, Watson had played only a handful of matches for his state.
His selection in the one-day finals series against England came as a shock to most, however the talented but injury plagued Queenslander was in dire need of match practice on an international stage.
It was better for the Australian selectors to throw Watson into the fray and get some games under his belt, rather than risk him at the World Cup with no overs under his belt against world-class batsmen.
Australia’s batting stocks aren’t the issue of concern, having scored over 300 runs in the final two matches of the Chappell-Hadlee series.
However, a lack of bowling depth left the Aussies found wanting as New Zealand completed the second and third largest run chases in history.
To blame Australia’s recent run of poor form which has resulted in them losing their mantle as the number one side in one-day cricket to South Africa on Watson is short-sighted and fails to take into account all the facts.
Australia managed to take only 13 wickets in the three matches against New Zealand, of which Watson, who was leading wicketaker for the tourists, took five.
The fact that Watson took more than a third of Australia’s wickets and scored an impressive 68 in a 122-run opening stand with Matthew Hayden illustrates that with an injury free run Watson is capable of delivering on his potential.
There is no questioning Watson’s talent as an all-rounder.
It was on full display in the Champions Trophy tournament in 2006 where the Queenslander made two half centuries and nabbed eight wickets, including an impressive 57 not out and two-for 11 in the final against the West Indies.
The major concern however has always been Watson’s ability to stay on the park; however these past five matches and the three-lead up matches in the Caribbean in the lead-up to the start of the World Cup should provide Watson with the confidence and fitness to be a key player in Australia’s cup campaign.
With Australia in the midst of a five-game losing streak and minus one of their strike weapons in Lee, the stage is set for Watson to repay the faith shown in him by the selectors since 2002 and turn his glimpses of talent into consistent performances and help guide Australia to their third straight World Cup.
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