The ides of August for Watson

The Old Trafford Test could (possibly should) be Shane Watsons last test match unless he proves all his doubters wrong and scores a century. A couple of attractive 40s or even a 50 or 60 will not save him. As Bill Lawry might say Hes gone. The case against Shane Watson is compelling, the argument for less so. For all his classy looks, useful bowling and far superior ODI and T20 record, the simple fact is he has not achieved at the test level in the last 3 years and should be put out of his misery and relegated to a short format career both at home and abroad. Of course we all know how good he can be but the stats dont lie and his form with the bat in test cricket is simply woeful for a top six batsman. I concede he has been mucked around in terms of where he sits in the order and no doubt unsettled by murky waters of his relationship with Clarke, but that aside he has under achieved and the evidence suggests he will continue to do so. He is a batsman that has peaked, aged 32 prone to injury and in simple terms his best days are behind him. The best we saw of Watson was in 2009 and 2010. An excellent couple of seasons, where he amassed 1559 runs at the excellent average of 50.29, scoring 13 50s and his only two test hundreds. Since then it has all been downhill. His respective averages for the last 3 years have been 24.09 (2011), 31.45 (2012), 20.80 (2013). In this time he has been to the crease on the 32 occasions for the measly return of just 4 half centuries. Not good reading. In the face of this evidence there has been the continued belief that he will come good and that his class will see him through, and whos to say that we dont get to see the best of Watson at Old Trafford. No doubt he will blaze the ball through the covers and his believers will believe this is his day. He is due after all. But this is a test batsman who last scored a test century in October 2010, probably lacks the goodwill of his captain, has developed a technical flaw of playing around his body and lets his ego get in the way when using the DRS. The ides of August are upon him and no runs here and hes gone. If not now it will only be a matter of time.

Dave Richardson 30.7.13