He’s been called worse – most likely by Indian rivals at the second Test at the Gabba.
But former Test leggie Stuart MacGill reckons Shane Watson is no Test No.3 batsman after yet another false start on Thursday.
And ex-Australia opener Michael Slater has also turned up the heat, wondering aloud when the all-rounder was going to make another statement with the bat.
The Indians raised eyebrows – and obviously Watson’s ire – when they could not stop themselves from launching into over-the-top celebrations after he fell for 25; yet another below par score for the hulking matchwinner.
Watson looked set before thrashing spinner Ravi Ashwin to a diving Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on before tea on day two – and then things got strange.
Ashwin carried on as if he had just sealed India’s maiden Test win in Brisbane.
Virat Kohli lingered around a disappointed Watson to deliver a not so subtle blast.
And Dhawan – who also famously mocked a limping Watson in an ODI last year – launched into what could only be described as a mad jig while keeping firm eye contact with the obviously unpopular Australian.
There was not much love lost for the underperforming Watson off the field either as MacGill gave his two cents on yet another top order mis-fire.
Watson’s dismissal marked the 34th time he had notched a Test score between 20 and 50.
Overall, the 33-year-old has passed 20 a total of 61 times, converting them into only four centuries with 57 per cent of his scores falling between 20 and 99.
MacGill – someone who knew all about failing with the bat with an average of 9.69 from 44 Tests for Australia – said Watson was not suited at No.3.
“I know he likes batting up the order. For some reason Australia likes him batting up the order,” he told espncricinfo website TV.
“But he’s made just four hundreds. I am not sure what is happening with him.
“He’s an allrounder especially with Mitch Marsh injured (hamstring) so I just think there is an opportunity for him in the middle order and hopefully I don’t fall asleep talking about this again next Test match.”
Slater said time was running out for Watson to find form in the No.3 spot which has changed 20 times since former skipper Ricky Ponting’s departure.
“He’s a quality player, but I think he’s got to show at No.3 that he can get that big score soon,” Slater told cricket.com.au website.
Meanwhile, the stage is set for Steve Smith to complete a classic captain’s knock when Australia resumes at four for 221 on day three of their second cricket Test against India in Brisbane today.
Smith will resume at 65 not out and allrounder Mitch Marsh will be unbeaten on seven in reply to India’s first dig of 408.
Umesh Yadav has three wickets.
FULL SCOREBOARD – STUMPS DAY TWO
India 1st Innings Mins Balls 4s 6s
M VIJAY c Haddin b Lyon 144 333 213 22 0
S DHAWAN c Haddin b M Marsh 24 69 39 0 0
C PUJARA c Haddin b Hazlewood 18 88 64 1 0
V KOHLI c Haddin b Hazlewood 19 47 27 1 0
A RAHANE c Haddin b Hazlewood 81 188 132 8 0
R SHARMA c Smith b Watson 32 92 55 3 1
M DHONI c Haddin b Hazlewood 33 92 53 4 0
R ASHWIN c Watson b Hazlewood 35 52 41 6 0
U YADAV c Rogers b Lyon 9 31 21 2 0
V AARON c (sub) b Lyon 4 13 11 0 0
I SHARMA not out 1 6 3 0 0
Sundries (4b 1lb 2w 1nb) 8
Total 408
Fall: 56 (Dhawan), 100 (Pujara), 137 (Kohli), 261 (Vijay), 321 (Rahane), 328 (R Sharma), 385 (Ashwin), 394 (Dhoni), 407 (Aaron), 408 (Yadav).
Bowling: M Johnson 21-4-81-0, J Hazlewood 23.2-6-68-5, M Starc 17-1-83-0 (2w), M Marsh 6-1-14-1, N Lyon 25.4-2-105-3, S Watson 14.4-6-39-1, D Warner 1-0-9-0 (1nb), S Smith 1-0-4-0.
Batting time: 516 mins. Overs: 109.4.
Australia 1st Innings Mins Balls 4s 6s
C ROGERS c Dhoni b Yadav 55 120 79 10 0
D WARNER c Ashwin b Yadav 29 41 28 6 0
S WATSON c Dhawan b Ashwin 25 56 29 4 0
S SMITH not out 65 128 88 6 2
S MARSH c Ashwin b Yadav 32 84 70 5 0
M MARSH not out 7 21 22 1 0
Sundries (1lb 3w 4nb) 8
Four wickets for 221
Fall: 47 (Warner), 98 (Watson), 121 (Rogers), 208 (S Marsh).
Bowling: I Sharma 9-0-47-0 (1w 3nb), V Aaron 12-1-59-0 (1nb), U Yadav 13-2-48-3 (2w), R Ashwin 18-3-66-1.
Batting time: 228 mins. Overs: 52.
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG), Marais Erasmus (RSA).
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).
Third Umpire: Simon Fry (AUS).
