Five of Shane Watson's most terrible DRS calls

Shane Watson’s career is a tale of ‘what might have been’

Some people retire on a high by scoring match-saving centuries or taking crucial wickets and wave goodbye to a sea of fans after a tearful speech. Some people retire quietly – They bide their time, think their options over and quietly announce a retirement. These people are hailed as the silent heroes and tributes pour in from different quarters.

Then there’s Shane Watson’s retirement.

Two weeks after the Ashes was meekly handed over to England and in the middle of an ODI series between the two sides, Watson abruptly called time on his Test career. There were no press conferences or emotional outburst. Watson walked in, announced his decision and walked out. The media looked at each other, wondering what to make of it.

Australia had already lost skipper Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers earlier and now Shane Watson has dropped out as well.

Test cricket’s enigma

Watson is only one of five Australians with a batting average of over 35 and a bowling average of under 35. He won the Allan Border medal in consecutive years along with the Australian Test player of the year. By all accounts, Watson should have been a legend. He should have shaken the world with his exploits and made a name for himself.

Plagued by injuries and poor form, Watson never realised his full potential. Something always seemed to hold him back, and he often looked afraid to exert himself and cause injury. Though he looked ready to take on the world, Watson often came across as brittle and hesitant, and his refusal to adjust his technique caused his eventual departure from the Test side, that too in obscurity after being dropped from the side after the first Test in the recent Ashes series.

Watson’s terrible record at using the Decision Review System (DRS)

Watson’s entire career could be summed up in LBWs, inconsistency and injuries. Watson was someone who could bat anywhere, and he played in every position from 1 to 7. While he was drafted in as an opener, he also rolled his arm over a fair bit, even picking up 5 wickets in an innings against South Africa. But he would always be judged for hanging his front foot out much too often and his consistently unsuccessful DRS referrals.

One in nine – that is Shane Watson’s success rate in using the DRS against LBWs in the Ashes. He has been dismissed 29 times in his career & has the most dismissals in this manner by an Australian batsman this decade. He has been dismissed LBW in both innings of the same match five times.

With 59 Test matches under his belt, even Watson would admit he should have done better than 3731 runs and 75 wickets. Instead of his batting exploits making the news, his comical inability to use the DRS is trending on social media. Shane Watson will be missed in Australia’s Test side, and LBW referrals will never be the same.

Here is a look at Watson’s most terrible DRS calls in Ashes series.

Perth Test, 2010

The year was 2010 and the third Test of the Ashes series was underway in Perth. England led the series 1-0 and Australia were in trouble at 36/3 in the first innings. Steve Finn rushed in and swung one at Shane Watson’s toe. The appeal for LBW was made and Watson was given out. He reviewed the decision. Hawkeye showed he was struck plumb in front of off-stump. Referral unsuccessful.

Watson repeated the blunder in the second innings of the same match when he was batting on 95. Chris Tremlett bowled it on a length and it swung back in to rap him on the pads. The decision was out. Watson reviewed it. The ball was crashing into leg stump. Referral unsuccessful.

Melbourne Test, 2010

Australia went into Melbourne after being defeated convincingly at Perth and it seemed to get worse for the hosts in the first session of Day 1 as they were shot out for a paltry total of 98 runs. James Anderson and Chris Tremlett lead the rampage with 4 wickets each as Australia folded pathetically. Watson was the first in the procession, edging to Pietersen off Tremlett for 5.

England replied with a massive 513, with Jonathan Trott remaining unbeaten on 168. There were timely contributions from Strauss, Cook and Pietersen, but it was Matt Prior’s late 85 that broke the back of the Australians. Watson trudged through 10 overs for 34 without a wicket. Australia trailed by 415 runs as they came back in the second innings, and the onus was on Watson to deliver.

Watson moved to a fluent 54 and Australia was in a solid position, at 99-1. After the next couple of sessions, however, they had little chance of making it a draw. Then Tim Bresnan came on to bowl. He pitched it just outside off stump, and Watson left it alone only to struck him flush on off stump.

The decision was quickly given as out. Watson, thinking he had been struck outside the line, reviewed it. The ball had struck right inside the line and would go on to hit the top of middle. Referral unsuccessful.

Ashes 2013

Watson’s woes continued in the 2013 Ashes. In the first Test at Trent Bridge, Stuart Broad bowled a full, swinging delivery which struck him on the front pad. Watson almost fell over trying to negotiate it. Umpire Aleem Dar gave it out immediately. Watson reviewed. Hawkeye showed the ball was hitting middle stump. Referral unsuccessful.

The second Test at Lord’s was perhaps the worst of the lot. Watson was struck plumb in front and Kumar Dharmasena had no doubt about it. Again, Watson didn’t think he was out and reviewed it. The ball was hitting leg stump flush. Watson had misjudged the ball so badly that there was an enormous gap between the bat and pad, and it was only because of the excess swing that he hadn’t been bowled. Referral unsuccessful.

Watson’s worst review ever came in the second Test of the 2013 Ashes

Watson was demoted down the order for the fourth Test at Chester-Le-Street, perhaps to guard him against the new ball. He walked in at 5 down and tried to engage in a partnership with Brad Haddin. But he was too restless. On his 10th ball, Watson walked across the stumps and tried to tickle the ball down to fine leg only to be struck in front – again. He was given out, and he reviewed it – again. Because Watson had moved across, he had been hit in front of middle stump. It was the easiest of decisions. Referral unsuccessful – again.

Australia sent Watson at 5 down to shield him against the new ball, but it didn’t work

Ashes 2015

Watson actually had a good Ashes tour in Australia a couple of years back, and he’d even made some good scores. His front foot wasn’t as wayward as it used to be, so it looked like he was improving his technique. As Australia looked to retain the Ashes, Watson and his supposedly perfect technique would be put to the test.

It all went downhill in the very first test. Stuart Broad slipped in one of his specials, very full and very straight. Watson was given out LBW, and he reviewed it. To the naked eye, it looked high. But for Hawkeye, it only needed to clip the bails – and it did. Watson frowned, looked at the pitch and shook his head. Referral unsuccessful.

The second innings was no better than the first. Full ball, played across, hit in front. Watson said a quick prayer, conferred with Johnson at the other end and reviewed it. The match was on the line, his career was on the line. The ball pitched in line – red. It hit him in line – red. It clipped leg-stump - red. Three reds. Watson put his head down and trudged to the dressing room. He would never play test cricket again. Referral unsuccessful.