The way Shane Watson is playing at the moment, it seems you are playing Australia less and him more, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that with the bat, and the ball, 'Watto' is doing it all! The man is dominating this edition of the World T20 like no one else ever has.
“Pakistan are playing against Australia in their final World Twenty20 Super Eight game at the Premadasa. Pakistan need to beat Watson to make it to the semis. At the time of writing, Watson has scored the maximum runs and taken the most number of wickets in the tournament. He has smashed 15 sixes so far, the highest tally, in a field that includes the likes of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum. In four games, he has bagged four Man of the Match awards. In a way, India should rest easy that Pakistan now have to tussle with this 'gentle giant' in an attempt to stay alive in the tournament,” says the report, adding that it won't be easy.
“Pakistan are just coming after suffering a thrashing at the hands of arch-rivals India, so their morale is at an all-time low. The batting looked good in the league stage but seems to have completely fallen apart in the Super Eights. Maybe they are missing the calming influence of their Test and ODI skipper Misbah-ul Haq, who has been dropped for this event,” says the report.
Meanwhile a report in The Hindu says that a close rivalry moves from the desert heat in Dubai to the tropical warmth of the R. Premadasa Stadium. Less than a month back, Australia and Pakistan were locked in a three-match Twenty20 series in the Middle East and Mohammad Hafeez’s men won at 2-1.
“The pertinent point though is that Australia won the last game with Shane Watson and David Warner scattering the Pakistan attack during a 111-run partnership. George Bailey’s men have not looked back after that and are in the midst of a searing run in the ICC World Twenty20. Now, the advantage rests clearly with Australia ahead of Tuesday’s Super Eights Group II match against Pakistan,” says the report, adding that Shane Watson has dominated the contribution-percentage within the Aussie ranks, accounting for 45.61 of the runs and 37.03 of the wickets.
“The all-rounder remains a key factor and when asked about ways to counter him, Dav Whatmore said in jest: “Poison his food?” The Pakistan coach then added: “He is very good, he is in good nick. But he is a human being; he can also play a bad shot and get out.”
