Result: Australian won by 9 wickets / Won the series 2-0, one match to go.
Many will rant on that this epic century came against Bangladesh, “just Bangladesh”.
Fact is, Watto still had to go out there and score all those runs and do it in tough conditions to maintain that power and focus to execute 15 sixes, also coming against slower paced bowling. Maintaining that consistency to belt the ball like that and do it at that rate in the weather conditions was something.
It’s a brilliant achievement and what a machine!
After following on from the Skipper, Michael Clarke, who scored his 6th ODI century, Watto – the Vice Skipper – scored his 6th century in this 2nd ODI of the three match series, and decided to take some records along with it.
Remember this innings, don’t take it for granted and in time it will set in just how good it was!
In the modern stage of Twenty20 overkill and the expected sight with a barrage of sixes via, at times, terrible technical execution of shot selection (and luck), this was a composed innings with elegance and incredible power by a bloke who is now one of the best batsmen around, nestling in as one of the finest Australian batsmen of all time and how far has he come along in general?
It’s just another splendid effort.
Here’s some of the general info regarding his innings:
- The highest ODI total by an Australian batsman, passing Matthew Hayden’s record of 181 versus New Zealand in 2007 (just before his insane World Cup campaign)
- The second fastest ODI century by an Australian. Haydos deservedly still holds the record from 66 deliveries.
- It was the most sixes EVER in an ODI innings, featuring 15 brutal sixes (including 4 in a row in one over). It surpassed Xavier Marshall’s 12 sixes (West Indies).
- It was Watto’s highest ODI score, beating his previous of 161* against England during the summer.
- It was the most runs scored via boundaries in an ODI. 150 runs (x15 fours, x15 sixes), passing Herschelle Gibbs’ 120 runs in boundaries during the 438 match at the Wanderers in 2006.
SR Watson: 185* runs/ 96 deliveries/ x15 fours/ x15 sixes/ 192.70 strike-rate.
THE BATTING:
Brad Haddin departed early again. I still think he is right at the top of the order for now but I was hoping he’d have a good innings as it would have been nice for Hads to have a break and Tim Paine to have a chance to do some Keeping. Maybe Hads can do some fielding in the final ODI?
Not a lot of running by Watto in the really muggy conditions, so he took the aerial route!
During his partnership with Ricky Ponting, Punter only added 37 runs as he simply returned strike to Watto as often as possible.
The two of them scored the highest partnership for Australia in limited overs cricket during the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy semi-final, but this time it was Watto who owned the show. It is awesome to see Punter hitting sixes again in crisp style! I’m glad he was there till the end. Good time in the middle for Punter and equally entertaining for him as well as it was for us to see it.
Cameron White was left out of the side following his very concerning form slump. I think his outing to India for the IPL will help him out, believe it or not. It will allow him to play aggressive cricket and really lunge at the bowlers to try up the confidence meter with less pressure.
Callum Ferguson deserves his place in the side and while he was merely a fielder for this game, it would be a huge relief for Callum to have been placed in the starting XI. He has to play more games for Australia. He’s going to be an invaluable member of this team in years to come and his style of batting is effective in the sub-continent conditions. I’m confident about this forecast.
Pity for Cameron, but the call is the right one. Further time continuing to play a bloke in a form slump can do more damage than good.
THE BOWLING:
The bowling was alright. Nothing spectacular and it was frustrating not seeing 10 wickets fall in another outing, but the total was kept under control and at no point did it look like Bangladesh would run away with it.
Mushfiqur Rahim put up a brilliant fight for his 81 runs and gave some of our bowlers a hiding, but it was overshadowed by Watto as he dominated with the bat and won the game for Australia, securing the series.
Brett Lee still chases that 350th wicket (puts him 30 behind Glenn McGrath’s 380 wickets) and bowled with consistency and unfortunately took a beating at the end of his spell. Hope the champ gets that wicket in the final ODI!
While Mitchell Johnson was wayward – has to happen some days – he picked up three wickets at under 6 runs an over.
Steven Smith was given a decent bowl out and picked up two wickets. I haven’t been a supporter for Stevo to appear as an almost given in the starting XI but this is also because I don’t know what his role is. This has never been made clear and it was atleast pleasing to see him send down some very effective overs!
Xavier Doherty bowled very well in my opinion. He got some decent flight but generated consistent spin and hit his areas nicely. The bloke needs more game time cause he’s decent enough to fulfil a spinners role but we can’t handle chopping and changing.
Shane Watson ensured Bangladesh would be walking away with no momentum and played an innings that may be dismissed given it was against a “minnow” side in a “meaningless” tournament, but if you are a loyal Australian supporter and understand the importance of this next era and that every game for Australia is won to try and support the boys to win, you will appreciate Watto’s effort for the rest of your cricket viewing days!
That’s the series! Well done to Michael Clarke on his first series as the official Skipper of the Green & Gold and another special well done to Watto. Go you good thing!
One game to go, 3-0 will be what the boys set off to do. Then it’s IPL for some, for others it’s a lengthy break until Sri-Lanka.
Shane Watson’s innings wagon wheel & the Australian innings Worm (aka Watson worm):
Courtesy of Cricinfo.
The Shane Watson 185* gallery.
© Associated Press
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7 comments:
http://www.celebrity-blogs.info/2011/04/shane-watson-almost-little-master.html
Watson one among the best all rounders till date...
Gutted he missed the 200, I've been waiting for ages to see one of our guys break that mark. Still looks like a brilliant innings and I hope to see more knocks like that from him.
This bowling attack is the one we should have had in the WC, just need to find a death bowler.
It also broke the record for highest percentage of team runsnby a batsman with 80%, breaking Viv Richards 40 year record
What a great knock by Watto one of the greatest hundreds ever. Watson has been outstanding for the last 2 years now and with 2 big hundreds this year he has confirmed himself as a great player.
With Clarke and Watson scoring hundreds in this series they have quickly found confidence for themselves and the team after the world cup.
It is great to see Callum Ferguson back in the team hopefully he and Tim Paine play in the last match of the series on Wednesday.
Time to move forward with younger members of the team. White needs a rest and hopefully he can find some form in the IPL. Hastings, Paine and Ferg are vital to the long term future of the team and must play often going forward.
Thanks for the Stat Matthew. Good to see you at the blog again.
I found it amusing how he targetted the midwicket and long-on region. he's so good at belting anything into that area. Most shots through the off-side are cover drives or "posed" straight drives.
Sly, spot on mate. Ryan Harris was doing the job in cleaning up batting line-ups come the tail enders. That bloke was impressive for us upon his return, but we need someone to do that role.
As for breaking 200. You get the feeling Mumbia Indians will win the IPL given how things have just been going Sachin's way for the last 2 seasons. Kind of wish Bangaldesh had scored a couple more runs eh!
Stapo, I'm surprised how many people as badgering Watto about the innings. I don't agree with people who say it was only Bangladesh. To maintain that raw power and ability for that entire innings and, as Matt pointed out, score more than 80% of the runs in that chase was atleast admirable.
Then again, the internet is the one place muppets can criticise and be crappy people. Very few would tell Watto these things to his face.
And comparing it to Sachin? You can't do that! The only time it is somewhat fair to compare and innings is if it happens within the same game. e.g. Punters 164 and Gibbs' 175 in that 438 game. Those are instances where a comparison can be drawn, otherwise you can't.
Thanks for the input gents.
Ian,
Definitely agree with you about the comments people put up in Cricinfo...I mean, I was laughing reading some of the comments about Watto and Sachin...I don't know when these donkeys will understand that credit must be given when it is due...why you want to drag Sachin into an article which is about the innings of Watto...?
Anyways, was a very good innings from Watto and 15 sixes were insane...!
Got sort of hooked to the IPL coz my home city team Kochi Tuskers Kerala has debuted... :)
Cheers,
Baiju
Baiju, you tell it like it is brother.
That's pretty cool that your official Indian State team is playing IPL. You were initially a KIng XI supporter right?
I don't get the comparisons, I mean it's only natural come guys like Sachin, Punter and Brian Charles Lara, but as for comparing this innings to Sachin, it's not really appropriate.
I tend to leave anything either of the three above mentioned legends achieved as a unique achievement in their own epic abilities.
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