Shane Watson - A promising but unfulfilled Test career

Watson could have achieved a lot more than he did

January 2, 2005. A young all-rounder with a physique reminiscent of an athlete made his debut against Pakistan. He had a lukewarm debut with 31 runs in the only innings he batted and a wicket in the second innings. More than the performance, it was the promise the youngster showed which impressed everyone. It ignited a hope in every Australian fan that they have found a true all-rounder.

Promise - it is a word that defines Shane Watson’s entire Test career. It was the promise he showed on numerous occasions which helped him in playing 59 Tests despite having underwhelming statistics.

His ability to change the course of the game with both bat and ball was indisputable, but its occurrences were sporadic. 10 years after his debut when he has retired, his Test career remains full of could have, should have and might have.

Injuries cut short his career

Watson could have given a model run for his money with his muscular physique. But the same body ditched him throughout his career. He played 59 Tests and missed 60 in the same period, a testimony to his fragile body which couldn’t sustain the pressures which possessing the dual skills brings in the game.

Whenever Watson threatened to justify his talent, he had an injury which again made him start from zero. He had all sorts of injuries, a dislocated shoulder, a back stress fracture, a hamstring strain, a calf problem and various others.

Sometimes he couldn’t bowl due to these nagging injuries, and without bowling he looked half the player he was, as his batting also failed without the backing of his bowling. Had he possessed a less fragile body, who knows a promising career could have been transformed to a more fulfilling one.

He couldn’t reach the next level as a batsman

Watson promised so much as a batsman, he had all the shots in the book but still managed an average of only 35.19 in his career. His front foot stride to the ball coming in, always had him in trouble. Watson LBW was a sight which was dreaded by every Australian fan as it was seen by them on a daily basis.

He would look at ease with every bowler in the opposition and just when it looked like a Watson special is on the way, a loud shout would emerge from the television and the dreaded finger of the umpire meant Watson has once again promised to only disappoint.

It wasn’t Watson’s ability with the bat that was questioned throughout his career, but it was his temperament or the lack of it to overcome his weaknesses which made him an easy target of his critics. 27% of his dismissals were LBW, proving the fact that he never overcame his weaknesses to reach the next level of batsmanship.

A peak that wasn’t sustained for long

Watson had a couple of excellent years in Test cricket. Between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2011, he scored 1613 runs at an average of 50.40 in 18 tests and also picked up 28 wickets. He was also the Man-of-the-Series against Pakistan in the home series.

During the same period, he managed to convert his true potential to performances and made people believe that he has finally arrived in the international arena. But injuries and the lack of form again took their toll on him and he couldn’t sustain his peak.

Had Watson sustained his peak form for another 2-3 years he would have retired with a more successful career. But this is what separates greats from normal players, they sustain their peak years for most of their career, a trait Watson certainly lacked.

Though Watto didn’t reach the heights he was destined for, he managed a career which shows a lot of promise. He should cherish all those 59 matches in which he wore the baggy green.

He should be proud of his contributions to the Australian Test side. Who knows what might have been Watson’s final statistics had he remained injury-free for most of his career and on a lighter note had LBW not been invented as a way to get out in cricket.