Australia need to dramatically improve their performances in Twenty20 cricket, according to short-form star Shane Watson.
Watson will make his international return to the Australian T20 side for the November 5 fixture against South Africa after a five-month layoff with a calf injury.
One of the world’s most damaging cricketers in both the T20 and one-day forms of the game when he gets going, Watson is set to provide vital experience in Australian’s new look side for the three-match series against the Proteas.
Since the explosion of the shortest format of the game, Australia have struggled to keep pace in T20 cricket.
The ICC T20 world cup is the only major trophy Australia has never won and Watson says things have to change.
“It is a new look Twenty20 squad, and unfortunately for us we haven’t been able to play consistent world class Twenty20 cricket since I have been involved with the Australian Twenty20 team,” Watson said.
“So I can understand why the selectors have made a few adjustments, with the Test players being over in the UAE as well.
“Trevor Bayliss also coming in to coach, he has had a lot of experience and a lot of success as a Twenty20 coach.
“We do have to improve our Twenty20 cricket and get some more consistency, and blooding some of the younger guys is going to help our development.”
Run machine Ben Dunk will wear the gloves for Australia in their upcoming T20 internationals against South Africa after being rewarded for his superb double century at the weekend.
Exciting NSW batsman Nic Maddinson returns to the squad and will likely open the Australian batting alongside captain Aaron Finch.
Queenslander Nathan Reardon is in line for his international debut, while selectors have shown faith in promising youngsters Sean Abbott, Cameron Boyce and Patrick Cummins to continue their development.
Veteran left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger has another chance at international cricket at age 33 and will lead the attack along with South Australian death bowler Kane Richardson.
“It is mainly just across the board in being more consistent in what we are able to do,” Watson said.
“Like we have been able to do over the last year or so especially in Test cricket but one-day cricket as well.
“We really just have to translate that into our Twenty20 cricket as well.
“With the Twenty20 team only coming together for mainly for World Cups, that continuity provides a big challenge but we certainly have to get over that and play more consistent cricket.”
