Shane Watson eyes coaching future
Sydney – Revealing his passion for coaching, ace Australian all-rounder Shane Watson Sunday said that contrasting experiences under two national coaches - Mickey Arthur and Darren Lehmann - will hold him in good stead for the role in the future.
Watson, who is currently recovering from ankle and calf problems in a bid to return to the national side for the Australian summer, hit his lowest point during the reign of former national coach Arthur after he was suspended from a Test match during the infamous 'homework-gate' controversy in March 2013 in India.
Some four months later, under current coach Lehmann, the 33-year-old was enjoying his cricket more than ever.
"Coaching is something that I am very passionate about. I am very lucky to have had some great coaches and some of the best coaches that have been in and around world cricket and Darren's been a perfect example of that -- to see how someone has been able to come in and change things around very quickly," Watson was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia's (CA) official website.
"I owe a hell of a lot to Darren because I was at a stage where I didn't know where I was at with my international career. Darren came in, and not just for me, I know it was for a lot of other guys as well, and just provided an amazing injection into what was required for us to be able to get back on track. We got back on track very quickly."
Prior to Lehmann's arrival, the tumultuous period under Arthur reaffirmed to Watson exactly what was important in terms of leadership and mentoring.
Watson and other members of the team were flummoxed by a series of coaching decisions which they felt were contributing to what had become a negative team environment.