Hampshire sign third Aussie

Shane Watson

Hampshire Cricket announced today that Australian allrounder Shane Watson is to join them as backup overseas player for the 2004 season. Both of Hampshire's two overseas signings Shane Warne and Michael Clarke are expected to be needed by the Australian national side during the UK season. Watson would also be available for injury cover.

Originally from Queensland, 23 year old Watson accepted an offer to move to Tasmania in late 2000 as part of a recruiting coup that enabled the Tigers to blood him as a first-class cricketer at the tender age of 19. He has rarely had cause to look back. His maiden first-class century (a superb innings of 105 against South Australia in Hobart) arrived in just his fifth first-class match and a string of successes have marked his progress thereafter. Most notable were his distinguished performance in a one-day match for Australia 'A' against New Zealand in early 2002; an 11-wicket haul against his former state; and selection in Australia's 15-man Test squad to tour South Africa in February 2002.

A fluent and stylish top order batsman with a full range of shots, a tearaway pace bowler and a brilliant close-in fieldsman on either side of the wicket, Watson's talent was also evident in earlier years in his appearances for a vast array of state and national underage sides. He was the outstanding performer at the Under 19 World Cup of 1999-2000 in Sri Lanka, top scoring in five of his six matches.