Shane Watson is confident about Australia being favourites to win ICC World T20 2016 © Getty Images (File photo)
Melbourne, (Australia): Having represented Australia in 190 ODIs, scoring 5757 runs and bagging 168 wickets, Shane Watson is not too worried about his international future. ”No, I am not worrying about that after having been picked for the T20 team. Having not being picked for the Aussie one-dayers, I have closed that chapter in my cricket career. Still got plenty of cricket to be played, my cricket in all the world leagues and playing for different franchises,” he replied to a query when asked whether he was also eyeing an ODI return. Watson stressed that age is just a number to him. FULL SCORECARD: India vs Australia, 4th ODI at Canberra
“Look it feels nice to be the old guys in the side, though I do not feel as old at 34. But I think it’s old nowadays with the amount of cricket played. It’s nice to know that I can still contribute like I have for the last three-four games for Thunder,” he said.
Watson also credited Thunder teammate and South African great Jacques Kallis for bringing about a huge improvement in his batting skill. ”Just working on getting back to my best, didn’t matter in what format. More so getting back to my best batting wise, especially. Lucky to have one of the best batters to have played the game, Jacques Kallis, who helped me out over the last month. Just worked on a couple of new things and he has had an incredible impact on my batting,” he said.
“He is one whom I have idiolised growing up and enjoyed seeing him bat. So knowing him and playing alongside him has been a huge privilege,” Watson said. Australian pacer Shaun Tait is also one of the surprise call ups in the T20 squad and Watson opined that the 32-year-old pacer’s comeback is well deserved. READ: Australia announce squad for T20Is against India; Shaun Tait makes an unexpected
“I faced two balls. One was a very fast bouncer the other one I nicked off. Shaun Tait’s an X-factor. He always has been and it’s great to see him back around the Aussie team. I still believe he has a lot to offer,” Watson said.
Watson is confident that the Aussies are well equipped to lift the World T20 title in India. ”We have certainly got the calibre of players to be able to win the T20 World up. But the format is fickle and you have to be absolutely at your best because performance from one player in the opposition can see you lose the game,” he said.