Watson baffled by young leg-spinner

Shane Watson says a 17-year-old Sydney leg-spinner possesses a wrong 'un that rivals legends Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Danish Kaneria.

Sutherland leggie Devlin Malone bamboozled the two-time Allan Border Medallist in the nets on Thursday, reportedly beating Watson with three wrong 'uns in a row.

"His wrong 'un is one of the hardest to pick that I've ever played against," Watson told Fairfax Media.

"Batting in the nets I found him very challenging."

Watson played alongside Malone for Sutherland against Hawkesbury at Glenn McGrath Oval on the weekend, watching on from pole position as the youngster claimed 6-42 from 22.3 overs.

"Even at first slip on Saturday, standing there trying to pick his wrong 'un for my own benefit next time I face him in the nets, it was still very challenging," Watson said.

"To see a 17-year-old be able to bowl leg-spin with as much control as he does is such a hard skill in cricket.  It's a pleasure to play with a young star of the future."

Watson says Malone's deceptive googly reminds him of former Australia wrist-spinner Brad Hogg. 

WATCH: Hogg spins Scorchers to victory over Strikers  

Hogg, who will go around for his fifth season of the KFC Big Bash League with reigning champions Perth Scorchers this summer, has bewildered the game's great batsmen with his elusive wrong 'un, and Watson can see similarities between the veteran and the boy 27 years Hogg's junior.

"It's a similar arm speed that Devlin's got (to Hogg) which makes it certainly more challenging to be able to pick the difference between a normal ball and a wrong 'un," Watson said.

Malone is in rare form this summer. Three weeks ago he captured all 10 second innings wickets against Sydney University, finishing with 16-138 for the match. 

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Malone applauded off by both teams after taking all 10 scalps // Vanessa Malone

But Malone, who stands at just 165cm tall, said he was "stoked" to bowl to a player the calibre of Watson in the nets, with the dual World Cup winner personally complimenting the young spinner after his torrid time in the nets.

"I was really happy to get feedback off a batter like that; to say that he couldn't pick them," Malone told Fairfax Media.

"It's made me a bit more confident bowling it in a game knowing it is hard to play and I can hide it.

"He was telling me that you don't need to worry about your height if you have a good stock ball and a variation ball that's hard to pick."

Watson will resume his innings for Sutherland on 1 next week as his preparation continues to build ahead of his BBL commitments with the Sydney Thunder.