Cricket Australia (CA) has reportedly branded all-rounder Shane Watson as one of their 'success stories' given his marathon, six-month world tour in which he played more days of top-class cricket than just about any player in the world.
Since the birth of his first child in the beginning of the year, Watson has played 72 days of competitive cricket, which includes the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Ashes, ODI series in England and India, the ICC Champions Trophy and the Twenty20 Champions League as well as other tour and warm-up games.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it is a remarkable figure given that back in February, Watson set off on Australia's Test tour of India not even being able to bowl due to a calf injury that had ended his summer prematurely for a second year in a row.
Pleased with Watson's resilience this year given his often-erratic fitness, CA general manager of team performance Pat Howard said that although there have been obvious criticisms that came out with some of the injuries, however, there have been also many success stories of which Watson is a part.
However, Howard said that he does not want to give anyone the 'kiss of death' because of the long schedule ahead this winter, adding that Watson and Australian team doctor Peter Brukner have worked well together, which is a plus for Australian cricket.
Howard also said that Watson, who topped Australia's runs tally in the Ashes after a career-high 176 in the fifth Test at the Oval, would be given a rest on his return from the subcontinent, where there are two one-day internationals left in the rain-affected series.