Quantcast

Watson rested from bowling hit-out

Australia allrounder misses chance to press bowling credentials in first tour match

Shane Watson will bowl in Australia’s final pre-Ashes warm-up game against Essex next week, though his most pressing requirement is to find his batting form.

The 34-year-old allrounder has been rested from the bowling crease in the current four-day warm-up game against Kent at Canterbury that Australia has dominated since being sent in to bat on Thursday.

Full scorecard: Kent v Australia

The official word from the touring party is that Watson is nursing some “sore points” from the recent two-Test series in the Caribbean in which he was only required to bowl 16 overs.

But with Australia fielding five specialist bowlers against Kent – including Watson’s fellow allrounder Mitchell Marsh – there has been no need to throw the incumbent Test number six into the bowling mix against the battling county opposition.

Watson was seen sending down a few deliveries into a vacant net shortly before play resumed at Canterbury earlier today, and while he was operating off just a handful of steps he was able to generate good pace.

Quick Single: Watson's most recent cricket.com.au column

Coach Darren Lehmann has previously indicated his preference for a Test line-up that features four specialist bowlers plus an allrounder, and that the final element of that equation must be able to justify their place with both bat and ball.

As such, and given that Watson has been confirmed as a starter in the final four-day tour game that begins on Wednesday (a week before the first Test in Cardiff), it can be assumed that he will bowl in preference to Marsh at Chelmsford.

Quick single: Ashes news, video and fixture

Both allrounders missed out with the bat in Australia’s first innings of 8(dec)-507 against Kent, with Watson brilliantly caught off a full-blooded cut shot for 21 having spent more than an hour at the crease while Marsh played inside a late outswinger and lost his off-stump having scored 30 from just 33 balls.

But with Kent dismissed for 280 shortly before lunch on day three and with the tourists opting to gain further batting practice over the remaining day and a half, it is likely both allrounders will be granted promotions in the batting order in the hope they enjoy some time in the middle.

Watson will then continue his management program over the coming days to ensure he is fit to bowl at full pace and for a significant spell as the Australians fine tune their Test plans against Essex.

No one will get you closer to the Australian team's Ashes tour than cricket.com.au. We will stream matches live into Australia on all devices, including the Cricket Australia Live app – available on iTunes and Google Play – and will have a comprehensive news and video team on the ground at every match. You won't miss a thing!