IPL 2017: 5 reasons why Shane Watson should be dropped
Shane Watson has unarguably been one of Australia’s most prolific all-rounders with 291 wickets and 10950 runs to his name in 307 international matches. He has always delivered for Australia, be it with the bat or with the ball. And it hasn't been anything different when it comes to emulating his international records in the IPL.
2611 runs at an average of 31.84 and 83 wickets at an average of 27.95 in 98 IPL matches is no child’s play. Yet, Watson has achieved all these with utmost ease. Nine years of IPL career and the Australian is still here playing and sharing his valuable inputs with the young players, even after his retirement from all forms of international cricket.
However, while comparing his Rajasthan Royals records with that of the past couple of years, it becomes quite evident that he has suffered a huge dip in form. Watson only looks like a shadow of the player he used to be two years ago. It seems that age and fitness have taken a toll on him.
Even his poor performances in four out of the five matches that he has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in this edition so far, have been a cause of concern. He has leaked runs at a dismal economy rate of 10.31, picking up just two wickets and hasn't done anything notable with the bat as well, scoring just 61 runs at a strike rate of just 96.82.
Here, we will have a look at 5 reasons why Watson Should be dropped.
#1 Batting woes since last edition
Some players have always performed in the IPL and made the tournament their own. And Watson is one of them; a batsman who has piled heaps and heaps of runs year in year out. He had maintained a batting average of more than 30 in each edition till 2015, except once in 2014, when he averaged 20.
However, Watson’s batting has suffered a lot since joining RCB last year. He averaged just 13.76 with the bat in 16 matches last year and this year, it hasn't been anything different, as has averaged a mere 15.25 in four matches.
Whatever be the issue, there is no room for a batsman in the team who can’t deliver with the bat for 20 matches at a stretch.