Sydney: Out of form Shane Watson should be made to bat at number six in order to protect him from the pressure of batting at number four, which would in turn bring the best out of the talented all rounder, according to cricket writer, Malcolm Conn.
“The damning statistic in that time is Watson’s batting average under Clarke, just 23 in 10 Tests without a century. There is currently no room to move Watson back to the top of the order so in his current form and mindset he must move down out of the top four,” Conn writes in his column for News.com.au.
“That may be possible even if Clarke is not fit for the second Test given his most likely replacement is another top order batsman, Usman Khawaja.
If Clarke is fit then given his outrageous form this year it is time he moved up to four and Mike Hussey to five so Watson can slot in at six like a true all-rounder,” he added.
“There is no question that Clarke’s best position is No.5, where he averages 63, but he is batting so well he could bat anywhere at the moment.
While six is not Watson’s ideal spot it would take the pressure off him in the central No.4 position and give him more time to recover physically and mentally from bowling,” he further wrote.
ANI
First Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 15:43