A brilliant allrounder for Australia and the IPL teams, Shane Robert Watson, fondly called “Watto” by his teammates, was born on 17th June, 1981 in the town of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
At the age of 19, he was already prolific with the bat. That’s when Watson tried out bowling
– “I love being an all-rounder. It keeps you involved with the game. If you miss out on scoring runs, you can come back and make it up with your bowling.” He was quoted saying. He debuted at the age of 21 in a one-day international game and by the age of 34 he has retired as the world’s No.1 allrounder!!!
Let’s round up his journey that led him to the DREAM11 IPL 2020
- IPL 2008 – Watson is remembered famously for his performance in the inaugural IPL season 2008, where he was named the Player of The Tournament and the Most Valuable Player. He played a crucial part in Rajasthan Royals winning the championship under Shane Warne’s captaincy.
- 472 runs and 17 wickets – Watson was sweltering hot that season.
Be smitten by him https://www.iplt20.com/video/30133
- IPL 2013 – His blistering 101 off 61 balls (RR vs CSK) , fetched him his maiden century and the Player of the series, though not match winning.
- Rest your eyes on Watson here https://www.iplt20.com/video/25788
- IPL 2016 – Soon, embroiled in a match fixing situation RR faced a 2 year ban in 2016 which ensued in Watson joining the RCB for 2 years.
- What transpired after that is known to all. The most disastrous performances of his life – prompting the pundits to write him off (what with him retiring from International Cricket in the same year!)
- Forced to be released by RCB Watson was up for auction, where he was taken by CSK. That’s when Watson pulled up his socks marched his way back into the limelight!
IPL 2018 – His performance in 2018 was ok up until the finals. “Comes the occasion, Comes the man” they say as Watson rose from the rubbles of his failure to hit a magnificient century – 117 off 57 balls!.
“He silenced critics who were opining that he didn’t have the mettle to still be part of the IPL caravan “ read a headline. Watch the magician perform calculated surgically precise shots.
https://www.iplt20.com/video/144983
- IPL 2019 – The final match MI vs CSK. Chennai needing 150 runs to win, it had Watson in the driver’s seat. Unluckily his was runout at 80 runs in 50 balls. Though the match remained alive, CSK lost the finals by 1 run. But what’s memorable is Watson’s tremendous effort to go on despite his injury is commendable.
Watch him play in trousers soaked in blood (giving him 6 stitches later) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-E0QXOnams
Watson’s Individual achievements
- Watson is the only player to have won the ICC player of the year award in all three formats.
- He is the only player to win Man of the Tournament award twice in the history of IPL.
On the lighter side…
- The spooked out Watson – When Australia toured England in 2005, they were put up at the famous Lumley Castle in Durham before a one-day game. Watson supposedly saw the ghost, Lily, which is said to haunt the fort. So scared was he that he spent the night in Brett Lee’s room, sleeping on the floor. The news spread like wildfire and in one of the games, England pacer Darren Gough raised his hands and said, “boo” as he stood close to Watson.
Take a look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pCJI-_LHC0
- The talented boy Watson – Watch Watto steal your heart with a strum of the guitar
- The positive minded Watson – Watson has played fewer games when compared to Australian cricketers who have been around for 8 years. But Watson has his own take on this.
“I would probably not be the kind of person I am now. The injuries have really tested me as a person. I wouldn’t trade the journey I have had for anything because it really turned me into the person and the cricketer I am now.”
That’s all for now folks!