It should be stated that there has probably never been a more vocal critic of Shane Watson than me. I dislike so many things about him it would be hard to fit them into this slick opening paragraph. But I will try. I hate the fact he stalks other peoples spots, talks himself up while dealing backhanders to other players, gets injured, says he has conquered injuries only to get injured, pauses for 4 seconds after every good shot, gets bowled even though he has an oil drum tight technique, and gives press conferences when he has fixed a technical flaw.
They are the basics. The main one is that the boy is super talented and has never really performed consistently on the International stage. At one stage in his life he could bowl at over 90MPH and has the ability to play as a batsman. It is just that after all these years, and more chances than a game of monopoly, he still hasn’t got the best out of himself.
Today he did. Australia took the biggest risk they have taken since Cameron White was convinced to bowl in India, and stuck a guy with a horrendously horrible first class record into the opening slot. He was batting with another makeshift opener, and they were going out to bat on a pitch that no one had any clue what to expect from.
The result was Australia’s best opening partnership of the Ashes. Watson not out on 62*, and Simon Katich out for a desperately uncharacteristic 46 off 48 balls. When The Krab Katich scores a nearly a run a ball it does tell you about what sort of pitch and attack the Australians had against them.
The pitch was ECB brown, had no sideways movement, there was also no real swing, and the bowling was an affront to test bowlers everywhere. Freddie was the only seam bowler who had a modicum of control, but he lacked real venom. Anderson was poor; Onions looked overawed and Broad was how he usually is.
Katich and Watson just put away the bad balls, and they must be tired because there was a lot of them. Mitchell Johnson could have slipped into this attack without anyone noticing. It wasn’t until Strauss threw the ball to Swann (a hopeful rather than strategic move) that England got a wicket.
Swann should have had two, but Watson got a reprieve from a fairly straightish LB shout. After 2 overs, 4 runs and 1 wicket Swann was taken from the attack for showing up the other bowlers. Australia strolled to the close happy that Swann bowled 2 of 30 overs.
The draw is still on the cards. Rain and dull pitches combined mean a lot of tests aren’t completed.
Shane Watson won’t care about that right now, he will just be preparing to make his first test hundred just to get on my nerves. Broad shouldered bastard.
