Thaindian News

Melbourne, Apr. 13 (ANI): Australia all-rounder Shane Watson can be compared to England’s Andrew Flintoff and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis in terms of his statiscal achievements in recent times.

According to Fox Sports, the 29-year-old Watson has skills as good as some of the great all-rounders of the modern game.

Watson has scored 3865 runs at an average of 43.42 and claimed 131 wickets at an average of 29.12 from 132 one-day matches.

Kallis has 11227 runs at 45.45 and 264 wickets at 31.76 from 314 matches

Flintoff had 3394 runs at 32.01 and 169 wickets at 24.38 from 141 matches

Watson’s figures are remarkably similar to those of Kallis at the same point of his career.

The South Africa great had 4610 runs at 43.90 and 120 wickets at 29.81 after his first 132 matches.

Watson’s numbers also stack up against other great bowling all-rounders from the modern era like Shaun Pollock and Daniel Vettori.

The importance of Watson to Australia’s one-day success is reflected by his contribution with the bat when Australia wins.

In the 94 matches Australia have won with Watson in the side, he has averaged 49.20 with the bat compared to his average of 33.00 when they lose. Five of his six centuries have come when Australia have won and his strike-rate in winning matches is an impressive 94.44. (ANI)