Why Shane Watson is the best player on Earth Print E-mail
Category: Features
Written by Luke Tagg   
Monday, 15 February 2010 21:57
Warning: this is not a comedy piece, in case the title compelled you to read it. I wouldn't want you to be expecting a laugh-a-minute comedy half-hour. I'm being serious.

Aussie allrounder Shane Watson recently won the Allan Border Medallist 2010 award as Australia's most valuable player, along with the award for One-Day International Player of the Year.

Simon Katich won Test Cricketer of the Year but Watson must have been close to taking that one as well - ever since he took over as opener from Phillip Hughes in the Ashes last year he has been nothing short of brilliant.

Not that his competition has been that great, mind you, with apologies to West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Still.

I looked up some of Watson's stats to see just what the fuss was all about. The deeper into StatsGuru I got the murkier it all became, but one thing became perfectly clear: Watson has been the best player in the world for a year now.

A bold statement, I know - but I'm informed.

Working with the time period 6 February, 2009 to 12 February, 2010 (the same time period Watson was considered for the Allan Border awards), it becomes apparent that Watson has been equally devastating in both Test and ODI cricket.

Katich may be a better Test player and MS Dhoni might be a better ODI one, but no other player comes close to Watson's stats across both formats. Consider also that he opens the batting and is a more-than-useful bowler as well.

In nine Tests he played during this period, Watson scored 849 runs at 56.60 and took 13 wickets at 29.61. In the 29 ODIs he played he scored 1,232 runs at 49.28 and took 37 wickets at 21.29.

Those stats would gain him entry to most teams - Test or ODI - as either a batsman or a bowler. Combine the two and it's crazy times. Exceptional stuff.

There are other opening batsmen I would rather have in my Test or ODI side, eg. Virender Sehwag, Graeme Smith or Tillakaratne Dilshan.

None of them average under 30 with the ball, however, which means Watson's inclusion can only be better for the balance of any side with him in it. You can load up with batters or bowlers - whichever you need more of. An opening bat who can bowl in either format is priceless.

The only player to come close to Watson's allround ability in both formats is Jacques Kallis, but these days his bowling strike rate has plummeted in both formats. He's a useful containing bowler, but his wicket-taking ability has slowed.

Watson has some way to go to overtake Kallis' pedigree, but in the last year I reckon he has been the most complete cricketer on the planet.
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