Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson.
PANAJI
One of the finest all-rounders to grace the gentlemanly game of cricket in the 21st century, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson is here in Goa to put on a show at the ongoing World Legends Pro T20 League at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium, in Verna.
In an interview with The Goan at a starred property in Dona Paula on Thursday, Watson expressed happiness to have an opportunity to play in the State and enliven good on-field memories.
“It’s been very impressive, no doubt, to bring so many cricketers from around the world to Goa and to put on such a great spectacle. The ground, the facilities, and the pitch here have been great. The lighting, everything has been absolutely brilliant. The group has come together to bring so many of my good friends, my competitors who I have played against throughout my playing days,” remarked the affable former Australia all-rounder.
Watto, as he is affectionately known, acknowledged that for a retired cricketer to return to the field has its own set of challenges.
“It takes time from a physical point of view to get my body to get to know how to handle enough of what is required on the field,” stated the former world No. 1 all-rounder in the shorter formats of the game. Elaborating on his statement, Watson mentioned that it requires a lot of effort to get to the nets to get his batting skills up to a point where he feels that he can compete against the current players that are playing.
“The biggest challenge in a tourney like this is for someone like me, who is playing maybe once a year and coming up against cricketers who are still playing consistently through the year. So, their skills and their bodies are still close to their best. So that is the challenge for guys who are not playing really much cricket at all apart from tournaments like these. But the challenge is I make sure I can do everything I can to get the intensity up to the point I can come out and score runs,” he stated.
Though it may just be a league for retired cricketers, competitive juices do not let up, and the rivalries are reminisced for a Déjà vu. And the name that immediately springs to mind for Watson is the Universe Boss - Chris Gayle. “(Gayle) He is someone against whom I had my good days against and some bad days against as well when he dominated. Harbhajan Singh and I had great battles. I also have some amazing memories with him playing for CSK (in the IPL). Then you think of Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan, Dale Steyn, all of whom I had so many great battles on the field. Also, some of these guys I played with as well have been a special time in my life,” the Australian cricket legend reminisced.
On his legacy, Watson wishes to continue to push to live by, he asserted that it is one to know that anything is possible if you really set your mind to it. “If you don’t take no for an answer and find a way around for the challenge that may arise. But now, from a mental performance perspective, those are the things I learn through my career through failing, also from the information I educate myself on over the last ten years as well. That is the legacy I would leave to help as many people in their journey to make that little bit easier, not as stressful or worrisome as it can be,” the two-time Australian-winning squad in the Cricket World Cup asserted.
With the ever-increasing volume of international cricket being played, the legendary Australia all-rounder across the three formats, admitted that pick-and-choose will be the norm. “(Cricket) Now it is getting more and more. There are no breaks at all. If there is a break, there is normally a franchise tournament and a chance to play. It is a huge challenge. And that is when you have to know how to pick and choose tournaments you play and the formats you do play to be able to sustain your performances across whichever format you are playing as long as you possibly can. And manage your body as well,” Watson pointed out.
On his second visit to Goa after a brief stay in 2008, Watson is enjoying the beach vibe that he wakes up to each day and something he is accustomed to back home. What more, Watson looks forward to the one thing one always sees on the menu here. “I really want to taste out the Goan fish and curry,” he stated.
