Shane Watson's Book

[malakian]

This is the one i'm looking out for. Look at the expression on Watto's face, what a man. He's supposed to give CA a bit of grief in it.

http://i52.tinypic.com/2retnis.jpg

[ahamedirshad123]

Watson hits CA for six

AUSTRALIAN vice-captain Shane Watson has launched a scathing critique of Cricket Australia, team coaches and the national selectors in detailing the ''panic'' that swept through the side during last summer's Ashes ''disaster''.

Watson has used a new book, Watto, to reveal Australia's bowlers were ''shitting themselves'' last summer because of inconsistent selections, and also says he privately admitted on the flight home from the failed World Cup campaign that the time was right for Ricky Ponting to cede the captaincy.

Watson said the Ashes nightmare began when marketing needs prompted CA to bewilderingly announce a provisional 17-man squad 10 days out from the opening Test in Brisbane.

''I felt there was a growing sense of panic all over the place which, to be honest, wasn't helped by Cricket Australia announcing a bigger than usual Ashes squad. I don't know why the squad was named that early; there was still one more round of first-class games as well as the Australia A game against England to be completed … there was a sense of panic … and that spread throughout the team.''

Watson said the regular axing of bowlers through the five-Test series meant ''they were absolutely shitting themselves every time they went out to bowl, because bowlers are the first ones to get dropped when things go wrong''.

''Our batters … were failing throughout and nothing happened,'' he said.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and coach Tim Nielsen have since quit, with major changes recommended from the Argus Report on the state of Australian cricket. Watson was dumbfounded when Mitchell Johnson's form evaporated in Brisbane to the point where the key fast bowler was rested from the second Test to have one-on-one training with bowling coach Troy Cooley, who has since joined the Centre of Excellence.

Watson could not understand why Johnson's greatest supporter, fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee, had not been called in to work with him. Watson also attacks CA for not ensuring David Saker, a highly respected bowling coach, remained in the Australian system. Saker joined England last year as its bowling coach and was instrumental in its Ashes win.

''It's been very frustrating over the last couple of years to see some of our best coaches not coaching where they should be,'' he said.

Watson says Ponting wasn't ''power hungry'' during his captaincy but felt his mind and time were clogged with unnecessary distractions ''because he wanted to make sure everything was done right''.

[Saqs]

Should be interesting

Although can never be as revelational as a book from a retired cricketer.

[zaid65]

Akhtar is smart enough to add all the controversial topics to sell his book. He has been guided by some smart people to make good and easy money.

Good luck to people who fall in this trap.

[ahamedirshad123]

akhtar is smart enough to add all the controversial topics to sell his book. He has been guided by some smart people to make good and easy money.

Good luck to people who fall in this trap.

read the title

[ahamedirshad123]

Watto !!

[akheR]

Bad timing Watto, the next centuries will be all about the Sachinitas Inquisition against Shoaib Akhtar's book readers.

[malakian]

To be fair, i was only joking re Watto's book. I just wanted an excuse to post that ridiculous picture of him

[srh]

Mitchell Johnson was never the same player after facing Umar Akmal in T20 WC semi-final.

[Saqs]

Mitchell Johnson was never the same player after facing Umar Akmal in T20 WC semi-final.

10/10 for relevance.

[malakian]

Mitchell Johnson was never the same player after facing Umar Akmal in T20 WC semi-final.

Possibly the most off topic post ever?

[srh]

10/10 for relevance.

Possibly the most off topic post ever?
not really. Watson is worried about Mitchell Johnson's form and I am giving one reason why it might have happened.

Watson was dumbfounded when Mitchell Johnson's form evaporated in Brisbane to the point where the key fast bowler was rested from the second Test to have one-on-one training with bowling coach Troy Cooley, who has since joined the Centre of Excellence.

[Ashraful_Rox]

Watto's title for the book doesn't come as striking as Akhtar, his book will go unnoticed.

[SOSami]

Watson hits CA for six

AUSTRALIAN vice-captain Shane Watson has launched a scathing critique of Cricket Australia, team coaches and the national selectors in detailing the ''panic'' that swept through the side during last summer's Ashes ''disaster''.

Watson has used a new book, Watto, to reveal Australia's bowlers were ''shitting themselves'' last summer because of inconsistent selections, and also says he privately admitted on the flight home from the failed World Cup campaign that the time was right for Ricky Ponting to cede the captaincy.

Watson said the Ashes nightmare began when marketing needs prompted CA to bewilderingly announce a provisional 17-man squad 10 days out from the opening Test in Brisbane.

''I felt there was a growing sense of panic all over the place which, to be honest, wasn't helped by Cricket Australia announcing a bigger than usual Ashes squad. I don't know why the squad was named that early; there was still one more round of first-class games as well as the Australia A game against England to be completed … there was a sense of panic … and that spread throughout the team.''

Watson said the regular axing of bowlers through the five-Test series meant ''they were absolutely shitting themselves every time they went out to bowl, because bowlers are the first ones to get dropped when things go wrong''.

''Our batters … were failing throughout and nothing happened,'' he said.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and coach Tim Nielsen have since quit, with major changes recommended from the Argus Report on the state of Australian cricket. Watson was dumbfounded when Mitchell Johnson's form evaporated in Brisbane to the point where the key fast bowler was rested from the second Test to have one-on-one training with bowling coach Troy Cooley, who has since joined the Centre of Excellence.

Watson could not understand why Johnson's greatest supporter, fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee, had not been called in to work with him. Watson also attacks CA for not ensuring David Saker, a highly respected bowling coach, remained in the Australian system. Saker joined England last year as its bowling coach and was instrumental in its Ashes win.

''It's been very frustrating over the last couple of years to see some of our best coaches not coaching where they should be,'' he said.

Watson says Ponting wasn't ''power hungry'' during his captaincy but felt his mind and time were clogged with unnecessary distractions ''because he wanted to make sure everything was done right''.




What struck me about Waston's commments is that, eerily, it's almost as if he's specifically describing issues Pak players have to deal with from the first ball they bowl in domestic cricket, to the day they retire.

Inconsistent selections, captaincy issues, CA announcing a large squad undermining the players' confidence, bowlers fearful of their places, underperforming batsmen selected consistently, correct coaches not being appointed.

People talk about mental fragility of Pak players, but I've always maintained that if you put any other team under the same pressures as a Pak player most will fold.

[Random Aussie]

not really. Watson is worried about Mitchell Johnson's form and I am giving one reason why it might have happened.

There are a few reasons for what happened to Mitch but I can pretty safely say some random innings in a T20 isn't one of them. Totally off topic and completely wrong.

On topic I didn't know Watto could read let alone write :))

[ORTONAFRDIFAN100]

When Is This Coming Out This Should Not Be A Problem To Buy In UK

[farazaidi]

Bad timing Watto, the next centuries will be all about the Sachinitas Inquisition against Shoaib Akhtar's book readers.

Nah, its Sachinist (http://www.sachinist.com/) :sachin

[saeedhk]

The best all-rounder in the world right now!!

[velu]

I want afridi to start writing his autobiography now :afridi
It will be the epic autobiography of all the players

[OZGOD]

There are a few reasons for what happened to Mitch but I can pretty safely say some random innings in a T20 isn't one of them. Totally off topic and completely wrong.

On topic I didn't know Watto could read let alone write :))

He probably dictated it to someone over a few beers :D

[RehanG]

huh he has not even retired then why?

[Random Aussie]

huh he has not even retired then why?

Our cricketers of note usually bring out several books, not just the one. Stocking fillers for Christmas.