Shane Watson Not In Favour Of Reducing Bat Sizes
Dec 14, 2016 at 2:03 PM
Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has expressed his reservation over Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) proposal to restrict the bat sizes.
With concerns growing over bat sizes, the MCC World Cricket Committee recommended a new limit of 40 millimetres for the edge of the bat, and 67 millimetres to the spine. However, Watson feels reducing the bat size is not the way forward.
Speaking to cricket.co.au, the 35-year-old said:“I don’t think there should be bat restrictions because in the end the game’s always moving forward.”
Defending his opinion, the all-rounder said no call should be taken against the bat size as far as it is legal.
“Bat companies are always trying to find a competitive advantage. As long as they’re legal, as in there’s not cork or anything (illegal) in them, then you can’t restrict the size of a bat,” Watson said.
“Someone like Chris Gayle uses a three pound bat, so his bats are naturally going to be bigger but he’s strong enough to be able to lift a bat like that,” he added.
One of the biggest reasons behind the growing call to decrease the bat sizes is the fact that the game has tilted massively towards the batsmen. Even a mishit nowadays flies to the stands. However, Watson opined instead of altering with the bat, the bowlers should develop their skill-set to stop the batsmen.
He said:“You’ve got to be better as a bowler. “There’s always ways you can try and (avoid) the middle of the bat of a batsman when you’re bowling.
“Some days are better than others, but there’s always ways and that’s the skill of a bowler to try and evolve and get better,” he concluded.