Watto far from ready to call it quits
SHANE Watson is refusing to guarantee the upcoming Big Bash League season will be his career swan song, insisting he still feels like a young man.
At 37, the former Test opener is aware his time in the game is winding down and since his retirement from international cricket in 2016, he has travelled the world as a Twenty20 gun for hire.
Since his final game for Australia in a T20 in India in March 2016, Watson has had stints in the Indian Premier League, Pakistani Super League, Caribbean Premier League and this year travelled to the United Arab Emirates for the T10 League.
Watson says as long as he’s contributing – like he did dur- ing last year’s BBL when he tonked 331 runs at an average of 36.77 – and he is unhindered by injury, he will continue to play.
“My mind’s open,” he said. “To be able to play in some of these tournaments around the world, it’s so much fun. Cricket is what I know better than everything.
“While I can really contribute on the field from a skills point of view, as a senior player and I’m still loving it, my mind’s open to continue to play.
“But if there comes a point where that real enjoyment is starting to wane and I’m not able to contribute like I know I can, then that’ll definitely be the day.”
Throughout his international career, Watson was constantly dogged by questions about his body’s ability to hold up – back stress fractures, hamstring, calf, hip and shoulder complaints have all robbed him of game time.