Watson was under-bowled at Gabba, is crucial to Oz attack: Blewett
December 2nd, 2010 - 3:03 pm ICT by ANIAdelaide, Dec.2 (ANI): Former Australian batsman Greg Blewett believes that all-rounder Shane Watson was under bowled in the Gabba Test, and has urged skipper Ricky Ponting to see him as a vital cog in the Australian bowling line-up for the rest of the high-profile series.
Blewett, now a Fox Sports commentator, said Watson was one of the few Australia bowlers who tested England in the drawn first Test at the Gabba.
“In both innings we could have bowled better,” Blewett told Fox Sports.
“(Watson) may have been under-bowled in the second innings early on, but on the first day he was just as dangerous as anyone. He got that beautiful breakthrough wicket of Jonathan Trott with an absolute cracker,” Blewett added.
Watson bowled just 15 overs in England’s second innings at the Gabba as Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Trott put Australia’s bowlers to the sword.
Blewett said that Watson’s heavy workload was no excuse not to bowl him regularly.
“It’s a bit of a balance between Shane Watson bowling and opening the batting, but when you get into the crux of a Test match and you need to win a game, you bowl whoever you think will get you the wickets. So, I’d like to think that is always going to be the case, be it Watson or someone else.” (ANI)
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Tags: alastair cook, andrew strauss, australian bowling, batsman, bowlers, crux, first test, fox sports, gabba, greg blewett, ponting, profile series, rounder, shane watson, sports commentator, test match, trott, vital cog, wicket, wickets