'There's nothing more we can do for you. Maybe it's time you
gave up bowling. Concentrate on your batting.' I can't remember exactly who said
this - that sort of statement kind of knocks you sideways - but it was in September
2007 and I was talking to Cricketing Australia's medical team...
Dogged
by injury and told to give up, cricket all-rounder Shane Watson has fought to
become vice captain of the Australian cricket team. Told in his own words and
with often brutal honesty, this is his compelling and inspiring story.
Born
with a love of sport and with the family support to pursue it, Shane started the
same way millions of Aussie boys did - backyard cricket with his mate. As with
so many now-heroes, the all encompassing word that summed up the young Watto was
'potential'. Then came his first major injury - a stress fracture in his back
at age 12.
Shane's story since then has all the hallmarks of a sporting
great - being hailed as the best up-and-coming all-rounder in the sport, only
to be struck down through numerous injuries, to regain his prodigious talent to
vice captain of the Australian Test and One-Day teams and being, to some observers,
the nation's most valuable player.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shane
Robert Watson (born 17 June 1981 in Ipswich, Queensland) is an Australian cricketer.
He is a right-handed batsman and a right-handed fast medium bowler. He debuted
for the Australian cricket team in 2002, playing his first one-day international
against South Africa. He now opens the batting for Australia in all forms of cricket
and was made vice-captain of both the Test and One-day teams in March, 2011. After
an appalling run of injuries his spectacular and consistent form with the bat
has seen him mature as a player to the point that he is, after the captain, doubtless
the first player selected.
'Watto' is available now.
