Shane Watson announces retirement from all forms of cricket
Former Australian opener Shane Watson has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. Watson informed the same on his YouTube channel T20 Stars. This means that he will not turn up for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2021 Indian Premier League. Notably, he was dropped for CSK's final encounter in the ongoing IPL season. Here is more.
Feel lucky to have lived out my dream: Watson
Here is what Watson said. "It all started out as a dream, as a young kid, saying to my mum as I watched a Test match as a five-year-old, 'I wanna play cricket for Australia.' And now as I officially announce my retirement from all cricket, I feel crazily lucky to have lived out my dream, and then some," Watson said.
Watson strengthened the core of CSK
Watson has been a central figure in the CSK dressing room since the 2018 edition. He was acquired by them at the mega-auction ahead of that season. His unbeaten 117 in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad helped Chennai Super Kings clinch their third IPL title. Even in 2019, he received the backing of skipper MS Dhoni despite failing to achieve consistency.
IPL 2020: Watson could score only 299 in 11 games
In the incumbent IPL season, Watson looked rusty right from the beginning. He managed to score mere 299 runs from 11 games at an ordinary average of 29.90. Although he racked up two 50+ scores, his strike-rate plunged to 121.05.
A look at Watson's overall IPL career
Playing for CSK, Watson aggregated 1,252 runs from 43 matches at an average of 30.53. Besides CSK, he has also represented Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament. Interestingly, Watson is one of the five players to have registered two tons in a single season. Overall, he will finish his IPL career with 3,874 runs and 92 wickets.
How Watson fared in T20 cricket
Watson played his final international in 2016. However, he continued with his exploits in T20 cricket. Ever since, he has proved his worth in the shortest format, time and again. He is still the third-highest run-scorer from Australia in T20 cricket with 8,821 runs from 343 matches, including six tons. He has also picked up 216 scalps, fifth-highest among Australians.
His record in international cricket
In a career spanning over 14 years, Watson amassed 10,950 runs from 307 internationals at an average of 36.74. The prolific tally also comprises 14 tons. In the bowling segment, he has snapped up 291 wickets at 31.11, including three five-wicket hauls. Watson also grabbed 129 catches in international cricket. Notably, he played his last international in 2016 at the World T20.
Here are his notable records
Watson's 185* (vs BAN) is still the highest individual score by an Australian in ODIs. He is the only Australian besides Steve Waugh to have completed a double of 5,000 runs and 150 wickets (ODIs). However, Watson is the fastest to do so (190 matches). He is one of the few players to score 6,000 runs and take 200 wickets in T20 cricket.
Watson retired from international cricket as the number one all-rounder
Watson retired from international cricket at the end of World T20 2016. Notably, he finished his international career as the number one T20 all-rounder, as per then-ICC Rankings. With a resounding performance in the tournament, Watson retained his spot at the top.
