Former Australia and Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Shane Watson has revealed his top five players that he will select as a part of the World T20 Playing XI, which includes star Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav. Watson represented Australia from 2002–16 and was dropped from the national team as one of its greatest white-ball players.
In recent times, he has taken up a coaching role nurturing new talent, joined the Indian Premier League as an assistant coach for Delhi Capitals and was also a part of MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings team. During his years in coaching, Watson has been keeping a close eye on some of the best T20I talent across the globe and is eagerly looking forward to the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 to be held from October-November this year.
“I will pick Babar Azam first. He is the No 1 T20I batsman in the world, and he just knows how to dominate. It’s like he’s not taking any risks, and he scores incredibly fast against the best bowlers in the world,” Watson said on Tuesday (August 23) during a recent episode of the ICC Review.
“He is also going to do very well in Australian conditions (during the T20 World Cup) because his technique is very good for Australian conditions,” he added. “The other is Suryakumar Yadav, He is batting incredibly well, and he will be my No. 2 pick,” Watson continued.
Though Yadav, the world’s number two T20I batsman, is backed by Watson, the former Australian all-rounder will not be surprised if his teammate KL Rahul does well in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
“But I wouldn’t be surprised at all if (India teammate) KL Rahul has a blast in the T20 World Cup in Australia, because he’s got the game to dominate in these conditions in Australia,” he added.
Watson’s third choice is veteran Australian opener David Warner, who emerged as the ‘Man of the Tournament’ in the previous edition of the tournament with 289 runs in seven innings and three fifties under his belt. His current ICC T20I batting ranking is 40.
“No. 3 is David Warner. He won the Player of the Tournament in the last Men’s T20 World Cup with a win for the Aussies, and also scored some stellar runs for Delhi Capitals (in the IPL). He will have enough fire in his stomach to make his mark in the T20 World Cup at home, so he is going to be ready to go,” he said.
Who makes the World T20I XI? Shane Watson picks his top 5 players https://t.co/DhIGh9Q5Pc— ICC (@ICC) 24 August 2022
England’s explosive opener Jos Buttler is Watson’s fourth choice. He has been in explosive form this year for England and IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals and is ranked 17th in the ICC T20I batting rankings. “No. 4 is going to be Jos Buttler for me. No one got him out too many times during the IPL anyway. The only time he has scored four centuries before in the IPL, with Virat Kohli doing it (in 2016) When he is in form and in form, it is almost impossible to get out in T20 cricket.
“He can hit the best bowlers in the world wherever he wants. And he knows the Australian conditions really well, he has played the Big Bash and did very well a few years back, when I played with him in Sydney Thunder. So Jos Buttler is going to dominate,” he said.
Watson’s last choice is star Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi, who is ranked 13th in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. “And the last one is Shaheen Afridi. His wicket-taking ability is something special. We saw his ability in the last Men’s T20 World Cup to be able to get the best batsmen out with that new ball. I would be very surprised if he doesn’t really dominate in Australian conditions, with the ball swinging around and the fast, bouncy wickets.
“I have a small concern with him that if he doesn’t take wickets in the beginning, he may back down a bit. But I am sure he is working on it. I would be surprised if he doesn’t dominate here,” he said.
(with ANI inputs)