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Shane Watson - Source: Reuters -
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If Shane Watson's Test career was a song it might be Pink's
Let's get the party started.
Watson opens the batting for Australia and he's the reigning Allan
Border Medallist, but he has only scored one century in 17
Tests.
Four times in six Tests this summer against West Indies and
Pakistan, the powerfully built all-rounder reached the nervous
nineties.
Only once did he get to triple figures, scoring 120 not out at the
MCG against Pakistan after being dropped on 99.
Even in this month's one-day series against New Zealand, Watson hit
45, 47, 15, 32 and 53 and hardly played a false shot, without
getting a big score.
Having played more than half of his Tests in the past eight months,
since being pitch forked into the opening role replacing the dumped
Phillip Hughes, Watson feels his career is just getting
started.
Watson made his Test debut five years ago, but injuries have
dominated his career.
In his past nine Tests since his Ashes recall, the 28-year-old
has scored 849 runs at 56.60 and claimed 13 wickets at 29.61.
Double hundred
He's back and he's keen to cash in with some big scores, like a
double hundred, before fitness or form desert him.
"My Test career is only really starting," Watson said ahead of
Friday's opening Test in Wellington.
"I'd love to be able to continue to forge a really good partnership
with Simon Katich at the top of the order.
"But also it would be nice to be able to get a few hundreds and a
few bigger hundreds.
"I haven't scored the runs I feel like I probably should have the
way I've been hitting the ball.
"That's my challenge over the next little while anyway.
"Get the big scores and not just get the 40s and 50s, actually
going on with it and making the most of the way I'm hitting the
ball.
"I know from previous times in my career that you don't always hit
the ball as well as I am the moment."
Australia have been playing non-stop cricket for a while now,
including last winter's gruelling Ashes tour. But for Watson it's a
joy, not a grind.
"Now because I'm playing so much continuous cricket, I feel like at
times I'm leaving off where I finished my last innings," the
Queensland-born NSW star said.
"Whereas before games were few and far between and whenever I went
out to bat I'd had two weeks off or a month off and you had to find
your feet again."
As Pink sings: "Get this party started, right now."
