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Shane Watson thought his chance had gone but a love o music helped cure theHe tells Sam Pilger about pressure, obsession and his return rom th
> photography JASON O’BRIEN +
interview Shane Watson
‘People might think I’m a goose, but now they respect I can perform at Test lev
AT THE start o last year
Shane Watson thought his
Test career could be over.
Dropped by the selectors
and ruled out with yet
another long-term injury, the
new New South Welshman
appeared destined never to
ulfl his potential in Test cricket. But in the last
12 months Watson has been transormed rom
a rustrating fgure on the margins, dismissed as
not good enough or strong enough, into an Allan
Border Medal winner, and one o the world’s
leading Test allrounders and opening batsmen.
“For so long people didn’t know i I was good
enough,” says Watson. “The truth is I didn’t
know either, but that’s now over: in the last year I
have proved I can do it or Australia.”
Since being installed at top o the order
during the 2009 Ashes, Watson has grasped
what was arguably his fnal chance in the Test
side, and scored 1229 runs, including 10 hety
hal-centuries and two hundreds.
And he has emerged as a genuine a
well. In the mid-year Test series agains
England, Watson claimed his frst fve-w
at Lord’s beore surpassing that the ver
at Headingley with a career-best 6-33.
Inside Cricket meets Watson, an en
hugely likeable character, to discuss c
rom the brink, eeling like he fnally b
winning over his remaining doubters a
motivation or the summer’s Ashes.
How do you look back at the early
o your career when you only play
eight Tests in our years?
It was a big learning curve, I wouldn
I am now i I hadn’t gone through th
I was younger I was too intense and
with getting the most out o mysel,
crippling me. I was pushing mysel t
the last 12 months, I began appreci
lucky I was to play or Australia, and
less pressure on mysel. I’m just enj
how much I can make o my talent. >
Redemption songInside Cricket DECEMBER 201032 DECEMBER 2010
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Inside Cricket DECEMBER 201034 DECEMBER 2010
What was the lowest moment o those
early years?
It was ater the frst Twenty20 World Cup three
years ago, because I had no answers, no one
knew what was going on w ith my body, no
one could help me. I always wanted to be an
allrounder but I was getting to the stage where
I thought I had to give up the bowling. I was
struggling to get my head around it all.
Why did you keep picking up all those injuries?
The problem was I would over-train, so I would
go in to games atigued, and I didn’t realise that I
was too tired to perorm. My core strength wasn’t
good enough and my running technique wasn’t
helping either.
Did all the talk o you being the Australian
Andrew Flinto begin to become a burden?
It’s true I became obsessed with being Australia’s
answer to Freddie Flinto. I wanted to be that
player so much. Since I was a kid I wanted to be
an allrounder. It became an obsession, and I now
know it was something that held me back, being
too intense and over-training. It was my downall.
Did you start to doubt you would bec ome
a Test player?
I was beginning to think it would never happen
whether as a batsman or allrounder. I thought my
chance had gone. So this now eels like a bonus,
because I never thought I could string together 12
months o cricket without breaking down.
What got you through it all?
Firstly, my love or the game. And my amily
were an amazing support. But also having an
interest in music and my guitar got my mind away
rom my problems. I developed a real love o
Blues music, guys like Eric Clapton and Robert
Johnson. I can really relate to the lyrics and
the eeling o the music, it really drew me in. It
suited the mood I was in, it helped to get out my
emotions. It is really in-depth music, it is really
ull-on when you listen to it and appreciate it.
How were you told you would be replacing
Phil Hughes and opening the batting at
Edgbaston last year?
Ricky Ponting tapped me on the shoulder at the
hotel and asked me to go or a coee – but I
had absolutely no idea what he wanted. He just
said, ‘Start getting your head around opening the
batting’. I was completely shocked, I didn’t see
it coming, because my previous experience oopening or Queensland had been horrendous,
I’d got three ducks in a row.
How did it eel walking out to open the
batting in a Test or the fr st time?
This was oreign territory or me, especially acing
Freddie Flinto with the new ball – that worried
me. But at the same time I also knew I was in a
good place with both my mind and my technique.
Anyway, I had nothing to lose, because most
people were expecting me to ail.
But you didn’t, so how do you explain
turning around your career and your
outstanding orm over the last year?
I had done some good work with Greg Chappell
about handling the new ball, and mentally I was
more ree. I cleared my mind, I watched the ball
and let my instinct take over; that’s when I bat
my best. I I get the fr st ball o the Test I don’t
think, ‘It’s the frst ball, I have to deend’, I now
hit it or our i that’s what is best.
What are the main changes you’ve made?
I now leave the weights alone, I stay away rom
the gym, and tend to be more specifc with what
I’m doing, so my core strength is better. I also
changed how I run. I am a lot smarter with my
diet. I don’t drink much now, just the odd beer,
and with my training, the new running technique,
I go into a game resh. The physio Alex
Kountouris gave me the best chance to get the
most out o my body, and now I am reaping the
rewards. I am a lot reer in my mind and spirit.
Do you eel you now fnally belong in the
Australian Test side?
Yes, I eel like I belong, and being a regular part
o the Australian side is a dream or me.
What has been your avourite moment
in the last year?
When I was a kid we used to go on holiday over
Christmas to Brunswick Heads in northern NewSouth Wales, and we would watch the Boxing
Day Test. I would sit there imagining what it
would be like to actually play in it, so to fnally
fnd out at the MCG last year was very special,
and then to get my maiden Test century was
amazing. I was dropped on 99 but there was a
eeling o destiny about it. It was me ant to be
there, and it was such a big relie ater getting
close so many times.
When did it sink in that you had fnally
climbed the mountain and got that frst
century?
Aterwards I was sitting in the changing room,
exhausted and happy, and I glanced up at the
honours board and saw ‘Don Bradman’ and
then down below there now was my name too.
I couldn’t believe I was up there with the
legends o the game, I was so proud. My Dad
was really overwhelmed and took a picture o
me standing in ront o my name on the board.
Was that the moment it hit you that you had
fnally become an established Test player?
It was actually about a month later at the Allan
Border Medal night when I was up on stagegetting the medal that I realised I fnally belonged
in this company. It was overwhelming bec ause
at long last I was a proper Australian cricketer,
playing my part or the side.
I becameobsessed
with being Australia’sanswer to FreddieFlinto. I wanted tobe that player so
much. Since I wasa kid I wanted to bean allrounder”
How did you used to eel at those
awards nights?
I used to eel a bit sheepish, you know, I was
in and out o the one-day side, and you’re
surrounded by all these greats. I hadn’t really
contributed much and, even though everyone
is really welcoming, you still eel on the outside.
You see Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Glenn
McGrath winning their Border Medals, and you
eel a bit distant rom it. I had my dreams but you
don’t seriously think you will ever win one yoursel.
What more can you achieve or Australia?
I hope I have only scratched the surace o
what I can do or Australia. I am always learning,
and I think I can get better.
How do you eel about your bowling
in the last year?
My bowling has improved a lot, simply because
I have played a lot o games in a row. I still eel
there is plenty o improvement with my bowling
but I am happy with it at the moment. I am so
lucky the way Ricky has used me, he doesn’t
see me as the bowler that will do all the back-
breaking work, he is still conscious that I have
to be resh to open the batting.
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Inside Cricket DECEMBER 201036 DECEMBER 2010
Ricky Ponting told us last year you may o ne
day move back down the order. Is that likely?
I don’t think that is an option any more. At the start
o last summer at the back o my mind maybe the
best option was to move down the order and bowl
more overs, but I then proved that batting at the
top suits my personality more. I defnitely only see
mysel as an opening batsman now.
Ahead o the Ashes series has the balance
o power now changed towards England?
The balance o power is changing, but our sides
are pretty evenly matched. A lot comes down
to how you play over the fve days. Beore we
had so many greats o the game that they knew
they would win, and they did, but now we’renot sure and we have to give everything to win,
which is good, it keeps us ocused. It will be a
phenomenal time in all o our lives.
Do you treat England with more respect now?
We always respected them, the dierence is they
now have consistent perormers, not guys who do
it now and again. They have guys who c an really
turn it on. Graeme Swann is a big, big player –
he is going to be very important. They’re a well
balanced side, and they know they can beat us.
So it won’t be 5-0 again?
I’m not sure. I wouldn’t think so but you never
know how it is going to pan out. Last time they
thought it was going to be closer.
In June the English press seized upon your
comment that, ‘We can give England a run
or their money’. Previously Australians
would have been more confdent o success.
We’re a dierent team now, we have dierent
characters. I am no Glenn McGrath, he had an
amazing career, I can’t make bold statements like
he used to. I don’t have his stature so you have to
be humble, and more respectul o this England
side.
Who are England’s most dangerous players?
Kevin Pietersen is their main man – he knows
how to perorm in big games. They rely on
him or bravado and aggression, taking on the
bowlers. He’s an amazing batsman.
Which o England’s bowlers gives you the
most problems?
Stuart Broad is a very skilul bowler with his
pace. He’s a re ally intelligent bowler, he gets
the ball to do dierent things o the wicket
with most deliveries.
What most excites you about the current
Australian side?
Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger will
be crucial or us – they have been bowling
beautiully. O course, Ricky is our main m an
with the bat, and Mike Hussey has a great
record too. Overall we are confdent we have a
team that is capable o regaining the Ashes.
How will this side be better than the
deeated 2009 version?
We have got better in the last year, we are now
better cricketers than in 2009, we have been
hardened by that deeat.
How great is the determination to
win back the Ashes?
This could be a defning moment in all o our
careers, which provides all the motivation we
need. I was on the pitch at The Oval to watch
Andrew Strauss lit the Ashes. As an Aussie it
was dreadul. I could have gone and hid in the
dressing room, but I took it in, and trust me, I
don’t want to eel like that again.
Despite your success, you are still
criticised by some ans. A newspaper
poll ound that 38% o ans didn’t want you
to reach your maiden century. Why is that?
I think in the past it was because I used to
be very intense with what I was doing.The ans didn’t warm to that, especially
because they didn’t see any results, so they
got ed up with me.
Do you think you can win these ans over?
The only way to change perceptions is by
perorming over a period o time. I think people
are starting to appreciate what I can do. They
might think I’m a goose, but now they respect
I can perorm at Test level. It is start
around, and it is great to hear peopl
‘I wrote you o, but I like ho w you pl
Did the incident with Chris Gayle
WACA last year hurt your reputa
It probably didn’t help, it was one o
that happen and you learn rom. I am
competitive but I defnitely don’t wan
like that to happen again. When I sa
television it was embarrassing, I just
there was too much carry on. I know
it but there’s no excuse. I won’t do it
Aterwards Chris Gayle said abo
“He’s sot and easy to wind up.”
Gayley can say whatever he wants, I
You and your wie Lee Furlong ar
amous couple but seem to steer
o much o the celebrity scene.
Is that a conscious decision? Once you sell your private lie and p
there, you can never get it back. I’ve
happen to other people, and my own
experiences. We don’t want to put o
out there, and we want to keep it pri
us, the best things in lie are the sim
like our privacy. We just want a quiet
something we talked about rom the
remaining private.
This could
be a defningmoment in all o our careers, whichprovides all themotivation we need.I was on the pitchat The Oval to watchAndrew Strausslit the Ashes.As an Aussie it was dreadul”
Watson and wife Lee
grace the red carpet on
Border Medal night
