What to do with Watson

[lemmon]

With Shane injuring himself again in the first innings bowling its starting to become almost ridiculous. Does he drop the bowling and is he of enough value to the team solely as a batsman? Can we even continue to carry him through tests when he is such a valuable one day commodity? We saw how vital it was in Hobart having him in as bowling cover and we may well have got up in Adelaide when Pattinson went down if he was in the side.

Its his calf again and while CA have announced his injury the severity is still unknown, he may be able to bowl again in the second innings. I'm almost at the point where I'd mark him as a short form specialist

[GVGjr]

Re: What to do with Watson

He's lucky to be in the side based on his batting form but I think he's a player worth sticking with. We need to find an all-rounder because most good sides still need that 5th option and even if he can't fill that role given he is also a senior player in the side and being the vice captain it's not that easy to replace him.

We have a trip to India coming up and we do need to find another batsman with some ability with the ball. Clarke has that ability but he can't handle many overs with the ball either.

Are there any genuine candidates with the ability to bat in the top 6 and bowl maybe 10 overs in a day if needed?

[Ghost Dog]

Re: What to do with Watson

Mitchell Johnson! our new all rounder

[The Pie Man]

Re: What to do with Watson

He's lucky to be in the side based on his batting form but I think he's a player worth sticking with. We need to find an all-rounder because most good sides still need that 5th option and even if he can't fill that role given he is also a senior player in the side and being the vice captain it's not that easy to replace him.

We have a trip to India coming up and we do need to find another batsman with some ability with the ball. Clarke has that ability but he can't handle many overs with the ball either.

Are there any genuine candidates with the ability to bat in the top 6 and bowl maybe 10 overs in a day if needed?

Andrew McDonald was looking ok earlier this Shield season (scores of 101 & 64) until his hammy went - shame, as he didn't embarass himself in his 4 tests against South Africa.

I have no idea who else could put their hand up.

[The Pie Man]

Re: What to do with Watson

Mitchell Johnson! our new all rounder

It's seriously not a bad call - test average of over 21 to date isn't bad.

[Sedat]

Re: What to do with Watson

I have no idea who else could put their hand up.

I think Faulkner has terrific potential as a genuine all-rounder at international level. He would be ready right now in the shorter forms IMO, and not far away from test level.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: What to do with Watson

It's seriously not a bad call - test average of over 21 to date isn't bad.

He doesn't throw his wicket away. It's the shots he doesn't play, if you know what I mean. He's hard to get out, and isn't that what you want from a middle order batsmen?

[LostDoggy]

Re: What to do with Watson

It intrigues me how people persist in talking about Watson as a bowler who bats - "he should bat at six" He is selected as a batsman and any bowling he may do is a bonus but is not dependant on his place in the side.

He is ideally suited to opening the innings where he has been successful in the past and he should replace Cowan in that spot. Yes he has made 19 50's and only 2 tons but included in that are half a dozen scores in the 90's. He is a far better player when the ball is coming onto the bat. And when was the last time an opening batsman was required to bowl?

I was at the Test in Brisbane when Cowan got 100 and he batted beautifully. Since then he has got himself into all sorts of trouble with his technique as he plays back with his back foot pointed towards point. Anything pitched close to the body is going to be fodder for the slips cordon until he learns to go back and across with his feet pointed back down the pitch. Where are our much vaunted coaches? Cowan is looking more and more like Hughes.

[Bornadog]

Re: What to do with Watson

Watson is a great all round cricketer who has been plagued by injury. He can open, he can bowl and he can field.

I agree with EJ, he is a batsman first who can occasionally bowl and get a break through just when you need him.

I say stick with him - Australia has not had a good all rounder in the team for as long as I can remember.

[ledge]

Re: What to do with Watson

If he can't bowl, drop him and put a decent batsman in, he isn't an all rounder anymore he doesn't bowl enough, excuses are injuries that's fine but in the end he doesn't bowl enough. We need to stop calling him one.

Instead of floating him up and down the order trying to find a spot for him how about we find a batsman who suits the position ?
Just another mate in my opinion, why play an injured player in the first place then use it as an excuse?

[lemmon]

Re: What to do with Watson

It intrigues me how people persist in talking about Watson as a bowler who bats - "he should bat at six" He is selected as a batsman and any bowling he may do is a bonus but is not dependant on his place in the side.

He is ideally suited to opening the innings where he has been successful in the past and he should replace Cowan in that spot. Yes he has made 19 50's and only 2 tons but included in that are half a dozen scores in the 90's. He is a far better player when the ball is coming onto the bat. And when was the last time an opening batsman was required to bowl?

I was at the Test in Brisbane when Cowan got 100 and he batted beautifully. Since then he has got himself into all sorts of trouble with his technique as he plays back with his back foot pointed towards point. Anything pitched close to the body is going to be fodder for the slips cordon until he learns to go back and across with his feet pointed back down the pitch. Where are our much vaunted coaches? Cowan is looking more and more like Hughes.

Is his form as a batsman even deserving of a spot in the side though? Cowan has averaged a shade over 40 this summer which isn't quite drop-able. Watson's stats in recent seasons; forgetting about batting position and looking at runs alone are really, very poor:
Season 2011: 3 tests, 87 runs at 17.4
Season 2011/12: 5 tests, 288 runs at 28.8
Season 2012/13: 3 tests, 153 runs at 30.6

Even in his golden summer he only managed an average of 54 across 7 tests. I'm a Watson fan but I don't think his form makes him worthy of a spot as a batsman alone, nor is it enough to justify displacing Cowan.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What to do with Watson

If he can't bowl, drop him and put a decent batsman in, he isn't an all rounder anymore he doesn't bowl enough, excuses are injuries that's fine but in the end he doesn't bowl enough. We need to stop calling him one.

Instead of floating him up and down the order trying to find a spot for him how about we find a batsman who suits the position ?
Just another mate in my opinion, why play an injured player in the first place then use it as an excuse?

He's just made 80+ and you want to drop him?

[ledge]

Re: What to do with Watson

He's just made 80+ and you want to drop him?

Don't need to drop him, guess what he is injured again!
Anyone else it's get fit first then prove your ok and perform at shield level then get picked this bloke just walks in the test team half injured all the time.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What to do with Watson

Don't need to drop him, guess what he is injured again!
Anyone else it's get fit first then prove your ok and perform at shield level then get picked this bloke just walks in the test team half injured all the time.

And wins two Border Medals - half injured all the time!!

[LostDoggy]

Re: What to do with Watson

Even in his golden summer he only managed an average of 54 across 7 tests. .