Shane Watson Shows Interest in Pipping Michael Clarke to the Australian Captain's Spot

From being Australia's worrisome cricketer to be their lone man standing, Shane Watson has come a long way. And it appears he may not be done yet and Michael Clarke should be worried.

shane watson batting

It has been a rough and strange summer for the Australian cricket team. And no one has taken the brunt more than the Australian captain. And that reference could well apply to Ricky Ponting as well as Michael Clarke.

However, in all the mayhem, one man has stood out like the odd man out and strangely in a good way. Shane Watson has done himself the world of good, particularly after being the young kid on the block when he first made his debut for Australia but failed to kick on through huge ambitions and expectations, injuries and failing form.

Watson can account his revival to his IPL stint with the Rajasthan Royals. But if ever there was a time to emphasize just how big a performer Watson can be on the international stage, he has already shown it through the Ashes 2010 and continuing to do so in the Twenty20 and ODI matches against England in the run up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Whether it is setting time after time strong foundation to build, another matter whether Australia took advantage of it, or snaring wickets of the opposition with the ball in hand, Watson has stood out as an outstanding performer and an invaluable all rounder.

And at a time when Ponting is feeling the heat of having lost the Ashes thrice under his captaincy and will in all probability captain Australia in ODIs for the last time in the ICC tournament in the Indian sub continent, the going has not been great for his successor, the Pup, aka, Michael Clarke who has been searching for runs but really coming slowly into his own as the England tour draws to a close.

With Clarke becoming increasingly unpopular with an angry Australian crowd who are not holding back on venting their ire on the state of affairs, Watson is coming off looking rather clean, above the problems that have besieged Australia and more like the leader who could lead by example.

And Watson is aware of the attention of him, to the extent that he has even acknowledged that it would be a matter of pride for him to captain Australia one day, even when acknowledging those that are holding the crown of thorns.

Perhaps it was timely then that Clarke hit those match winning runs in time in the fifth and sixth ODIs to set the record straight, or for it to be on the mend anyway.