Watson the Wonderful

The letter “W” is for Wonderful.  Until recently, more famously, it stood for Wonder Woman.  Not it is synonymous with Watson.  Wonderful Watson.  After years of struggles with injuries and undelivered promise, Watson has arrived.

Some of you have pointed out that I have been uncomplimentary of Watson and that I should eat humble pie.  Please allow me to clarify that I have been putting the boot into the selectors for picking Watson when one could question his merits.  I admit that Watson can only play when invited and do his best, which I’m sure he does.  His one major on-field slip up was his sending off of Chris Gayle.  That was woeful.

During my discussions about the logical flaws displayed by the selectors, I may have highlighted some of Watson’s short comings.  Perhaps they are still there – I don’t know that Australia is playing anything more than ordinary opposition.  However, the fact is that since his reselection, Watson has been the best performed Australian batsman.

In seven Tests, he has scored 716 runs at an average of 65.09.  Included in that are six half centuries and one precious century.  While his bowling was lacking during the Ashes, this summer, he has started to become a useful engine.  He is swinging the ball in the middle overs of the ball’s life, is economical and is taking wickets.

Watson has even found that there are ways to be dismissed aside from lbw and bowled.  He discovered run out when in his nineties, and that shows that Watson is not afraid to try new things, even when there is great cost involved.

And of course, he continues to be ever willing when a microphone is stuck in front of him.  Which is a good thing because we have found out the secret of this transformation:  Less bench presses and more Pilates.  Less brawn (but not necessarily more brain) and more flex. (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/how-i-found-key-to-shane-watsons-body/story-e6frey50-1225814512222) 

Happy New Year to you all.  The irresistible Watson for the captaincy by the end of 2010.

The Other Boxing Day Test

The Boxing Day Test which is played at the MCG is rather sacred in Australian sporting folk law.  In our introspective tendencies, we sometimes overlook details and one of those is that South Africa also has a Boxing Day Test tradition.  In fact, this point has cause a little chagrin in the past because the Proteas would like to host a Boxing Day Test against Australia.  But that is never going to happen.

However, the next best thing is under way as South Africa is playing England in Durban in the second Test of the series.  Day four proved to be decisive and it went decidedly in favour of the visitors.

Day four saw England start with a lead of 43 runs with five wickets in hand, with that font of untapped talent, Ian Bell at the crease.  A handy position to be in but hardly commanding.  England finished with a huge first innings lead of 232 following Bell’s masterpiece of 141.

At stumps, after a stunning final session, South Africa require 156 runs to make England bat again with only four wickets in hand.  The man of the hour, Swann and the hero of the Ashes decider, Stuart Broad, have three wickets apiece.  South Africa did manage to survive the final ten overs without loss but the innings is in tatters at 6-76 with all possible saviours back in the sheds.

In Melbourne, the game is interestingly poised.  The TV station and the papers might “talk it up”, but can we dare to believe that Pakistan could make it interesting?  However, it is true that Australia is once again making heavy work closing out a match.  If it were not for the great man, Watson, who knows what could have happened.  Now, it would have been bloody funny if butterfingers Rauf could have a held a straight forward catch at gully when Watson was 99, but he didn’t.

Watson’s recent achievements will be acknowledged in my final piece for the year but let me say congratulations to him on making a Test century.  One that many thought would never come.