Watson investment finally paying off

Robert Craddock in the Courier-Mail looks at the case of Shane Watson, who could yet be one of Australian sport's great feelgood stories.

Cricket and Watson have invested a huge amount in each other. In the years when they had Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as their banker blue-chip shares, the Australian selectors considered Watson their little speculative oil rig which might have three bad years but might strike when they need him most. Watson is not quite there yet. But he is close. It's eight years since Australia chose Watson on a Test tour of South Africa and during that time he has played only 11 Tests with his 96 one-dayers.

Watson is an interesting character who is a much better player than he is widely given credit for. He is such a fine batsman that in a year's time – with Ponting, Katich and Hussey in their 36th year – he may well be behind Michael Clarke as the second best batsman in the country. Some people say that his bowling is too mechanical but we must forgive him for that. After breaking down so many times he is a bit like a waiter who has just spilt the drinks heading out with the next tray. If he is taking things a bit cautiously and carefully you can sort of understand it.

In the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Roebuck runs the rule over the gallery of stars who turned out for New South Wales in a one-day game on Sunday, and who will be hoping for place in next week's first Test.

Among the bowlers, Brett Lee did not advance or harm his case. His persistence has been commendable. Nine months ago his chances of playing Test cricket again seemed remote. Now he is back in the reckoning ... Stuart Clark was serviceable, nothing more, and it's hard to see him holding his place at the Gabba.