The Australia media has called for new coach Darren Lehmann to find the 'top gear' in former vice-captain Shane Watson's Test play that Australia has never seen, and dress the wounds of the scars of rejection that Watson is burdened with.
Comparing Watson's condition to that of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the Courier Mail said that like Rudd, Watson is also a former team leader, who is on loveless terms with current leader Michael Clarke and has a shaky relationship with the Clarke's loyal supporters in the teams, despite being a member of the 'party'.
The report further said that Watson has been deeply wounded by his exile from the team, to the point where sacked coach Mickey Arthur could not get Watson's mental state where he wanted it to be after the homework fiasco in India, adding that a part of Watson never recovered from the episode.
However, the report said that Lehmann has a chance to dress the wound and bring out a never-seen form of Watson for the mega Ashes series, adding that Lehmann's trump card will be that he had nothing to do with the fiasco in Mohali, although it added that like all new coaches, Lehmann will also have a short privilege of having his every wish catered to.
However, the report said that there is no certainty Lehmann can totally defrost the iceberg between Clarke and Watson, adding that although Watson, a dual Allan Border Medal winner, deserved recognition for his progress, his form under Clarke was a shadow of what he achieved when Ricky Ponting was in charge.
