Know Your Player – Shane Watson
Cricketing milestones, rise through the ranks, trials and tribulations and their glamorous lifestyles – we cover it all in ‘Know Your Player’, a brand-new section aimed at keeping you updated with everything you need to know! In this edition, we take a look at the veteran Australian all-rounder, Shane Watson. Keep watching this space for a new superstar every time!
The Beginning
At the age of 19, Watson won the Australian Cricket Academy scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport in 2000. He began his first-class career with Tasmania before returning to his home state of Queensland. His steady performance with both the bat and the ball in the Pura Cup saw him making his ODI debut in 2002. It took another three years for Watson to get into the Test side as he battled various injuries. He then represented Australia in all three formats and delivered exceptional performances when he was fit.
The Rise
Watto is one of the veterans in the Indian Premier League, having played since its inception in 2008. In his first season itself, the Australian was part of the title-winning Rajasthan Royals squad. He then moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016, before finally signing up with the Chennai Super Kings, his current IPL team.
One of his most memorable performances for CSK came in the 2018 final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he scored a match-winning hundred. Another one followed in the 2019 final against Mumbai Indians, where he fell four runs short of a ton.
Off The Field
Watson is a popular figure in the cricketing world for his longevity and speaking on issues without hesitation. He runs his own blog here where he recently spoke about how the Big Bash League needs remodelling. The all-rounder has also started his own series on his social media account regarding the lessons he learnt from legends which he played with.
