Shane Watson Opening

[Cricketdude]

I bet those 62 runs were all down to third man.

 

[angryangy]

The thing about quoting his scores for Queensland is that it's a long time ago and it was only 3 matches anyway. There's no point quoting them if you don't bother to go through everyone else's records to quote similar statistics and consequentially proving that noone in the world is good enough to bat in any position for Australia.

If past stats are the be all, end all, then you probably would have reasoned that Katich should never have been picked again after being dropped in a year for which he averaged 29. Indeed many pundits ignored the incredible rate at which he was accumulating runs domestically. It was also a manoeuvre that caught many off guard when he was placed in the opener's position. The results proved the doubters wrong there, but the important point is that there would have been nothing to prove had the doubters got their way, he just would have been a batsman who failed and was never given another chance. If there are no chances taken, then there can be no gains.

People keep chanting "Watson is not a Test batsman", as if to stop saying the mantra makes it untrue. It's one thing for it to be an opinion; and a popular one, at that; but why does it need to be said three times a day? Let him have a bat. If the claims have any substance then they deserves to be proven, rather than just based on tired arguments.

 

[Hooper]

Angy, we are all just pissed off that a bloke we all hate, who has proven he cannot open at FC level is in fact opening in tests for our country now. I don't think we should be getting told to stop the hate when we get selection decisions like these thrown at us. And Katich? What you talking about? He should of been picked again.... He was scoring a ton load of runs for NSW and its known that he can actually bat as an opener as he had shown in the past.

 

[Howsie]

Even if it's only six innings in FC cricket Watson has proven over the last five years he isn't up to test match standard with the bat. If anyone would have told you he would be opening for Australia in a test six months ago would you have believed it...

 

[Aditya]

I am glad he is opening for asutralia.He is right person to open for australia he can play as per situation of the match like defensive or fast like yesterday there was not that many overs but he played fast for making sure day dont get wasted and let we see what he do today century or not.

 

[Covvy]

He's actually a pretty smart player, unlike Ponting. Maybe Watto could be the next Aussie captain?:doh

 

[Aditya]

Yes he can be no doubt in it but captain looks tuf he could be vice-captain.

 

[OffCutters]

Watson got a half-century and suddenly he`s underrated and very good? C`mon, it`s only his first Ashes match, if he does this well for the rest of the series, then i`ll think about his potential. But now...i still think his ****.

 

[Covvy]

Interesting to see how he goes tonight, I personally hope he goes well just because Australia really need some luck.

 

[OffCutters]

True, no matter how much i hate him, we need him to do well to give us the momentum.

 

[Gilly Fan]

Hack, spud, can't bat etc. etc.

 

[aussie1st]

Way to go thread starter, way to jinx Watson.

 

[Covvy]

Hussey should now go to the top and Watto down to 4.

 

[OffCutters]

This thread owns all. Its so brutally right.

 

[iridescentt]

I guess this thread has gone down the drain.