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If Australian cricket is moving forward under Darren Lehmann, then Shane
Watson is hurtling enthusiastically back in time. Commissioned by
Lehmann to revert to the opening role he excelled in from 2009 to 2011,
Watson has pointed to his time under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting as
the "blueprint" for his Test match future, as a reliable batsman, change
bowler and durable member of the national team.
Upon Ponting's exit from the captaincy in April 2011, his successor
Michael Clarke had charted a rather different role for Watson, making
greater use of his bowling while shuffling him around the batting order.
But two years of decreasing returns and increasing unrest in the team
left Lehmann to conclude that Watson had to be returned to his former
post. The evidence of Watson's appreciation for the chance was written
all over his sparkling 90 against Somerset at Taunton.
"That's the blueprint for me anyway, how Ricky used me when I was
opening the batting, which worked nicely over that period of time,"
Watson said. "I was able to get through a lot of cricket without too
many injuries, so hopefully I can get that period of time back again and
get through a lot of cricket without too many injuries.
"The time when I did open the batting in Test cricket was the most
success I'd had physically to be able to hold it together for a period
of time so that does bring back good memories of that period of time
when I was able to stay on the field and contribute with the ball
whenever I could, predominantly being an opening batsman which certainly
does excite me.
"Certainly opening the batting means I can't bowl too much which has
worked for me in the past. Bowling wise I know I can contribute and
that's why I do love bowling, but opening means I won't bowl as much as
where I might if I was batting four especially. The balance worked
previously so hopefully it can work again."
As an opener Watson can pose a genuine threat to England's high class
pace attack, as much for his enthusiastic attitude to the task as his
mechanical, repeatable technique. At his worst Watson can look a tad
robotic, but his fundamentals and certainty around off stump are of the
kind that will allow him to not only blunt the new ball but punch it to
the boundary. Moreover, he is likely to be set by the time spin is
resorted to.
"Being able to take on the quicks with the brand new ball, I never knew
how much I'd enjoy that until I got the opportunity in the last Ashes
series here in 2009," Watson said. "Ricky Ponting gave me the
opportunity through the middle of that Ashes series and it's certainly
something that I did and do love. I feel my game and mentality is really
suited to opening the batting. It's nice to get the opportunity again
to take on the English quicks.
"Coming into playing spin as well at times means I've got a little bit
of batting under my belt instead of at times batting at No. 4 going in
against spin. Certainly I find it easier to get things going facing the
fast bowlers.
"So that alone and then not from the bowling perspective as well means
my bowling workloads are reduced opening the batting, which they were
when I did that previously so that worked out well at that stage so
hopefully that can happen again."
Watson lauded Lehmann's frankness, something he had first encountered
when teammates for Australia in the earliest years of the allrounder's
long yet so far unfulfilled international career. "I know the way Darren
operates and he certainly doesn't beat around the bush, he tells it how
it is and that's a great thing," he said. "In my experiences with
Darren playing with him and against him he certainly is very upfront,
but he also does care when he needs to as well.
"It is black and white in a really good way, so it's nice for him to
know I've got the backing of the coach to open. It's something I've been
excited about to get that opportunity, and for that to be confirmed is a
great thing."
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here
Feeds: Daniel Brettig
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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