Shane Watson unlikely to open for Australia
Mar 25, 2016 at 12:15 AM
Shane Watson is likely to be used in the middle order in Australia’s remaining games against Pakistan and India. Skipper Steve Smith in the pre match conference admitted that since Watson had the ability to bat in the middle order, it would be better for Australia if he was used in the middle order as per the situation.
“I think Watto can adapt, I think he’s got a bit of extra power,” Smith said. “I’ve seen him bat in one-day cricket at No. 5 and No. 6, he’s batted in the middle order in IPL over here as well, and he’s done quite well. He certainly can. Usman, I think, is suited to the top of the order. He plays just good cricket shots and scores at a pretty good rate without taking many risks,” he said.
“It depends what we want on that given day. If we want a bit of extra power and get off to an absolute flyer, you’ve got options of Finch and Warner and Watson, and if you want just good cricket strokeplay and then leave it for the middle overs and the back end, I think Usman is suited to bat for a longer period,” Smith added.
Smith also said that it was not the openers, but the middle order batsmen, who had the Australians down against New Zealand. “Having said that, the two starts we’ve had have been good. Hasn’t been in the first game, it wasn’t the openers’ fault that we lost that match. It was our middle order. And our middle order again didn’t do the job to polish off the performance the other night. We’ve got a few options, it’s just about summing up what we think is best for that certain day, those conditions and against that opposition.”