[0:00]When he goes out to bat, it's like, it's like you're in a movie set. Oh, he goes out to bat, there's his cameras on everywhere, like, everyone's holding their breath, it's just, it's like an out-of-body experience when you see M S D go out to bat now. I personally expected you to say Dale Steyn, because Australia were a bit concerned with South Africa during all those years. Oh, yeah, for sure. Dale was ridiculously good, but I just think Jasprit Bumrah, to be able to swing the ball both ways with the skill that he has. I mean, that's what, yeah, the MCG is like, that is a moment that you dream of as a kid is being in the middle. You dream of hitting the winning runs, got to miss out on that, but just to be in the middle when that happened, that was something very special. How do you see what you think? Yeah, it's a great question, Kartik. Because, like, I had eight seasons at the Rajasthan Royals and built a, yeah, a great and a tight connection with Rajasthan Royals, with the fans, with the, with the ownership. The continued support that I have for, from C S K fans all around the world. And it's, it honestly feels like, it feels like I played with C S K for the majority of my career because of the support that I still have even now.
[1:07]We have Shane Watson with us. Do you believe, if I could say, I'm sitting with my idol, the Australian legend is all with us. Watto, how do you feel in India? How is it going with K K R? Uh, it's, it's always great to be here in India, Karthik. It's great to be able to be chatting with you. I really appreciate your love and support. It means a lot. Um, it's always yeah, it's, my time in India. Actually, my first time I ever came to India was in 2000. I came to here to Chennai to the M R F Pace Foundation with Dennis Lillee. So my first ever time in India was in Chennai, and it's great to be back here. I've got. Would you believe if I say, I saw you in Taj Coromandel during 2013-14 series, Sir. Faulky was with me, I was speaking with Faulky. You were busy on a call. So I thought, Don't Disturb. But then after seconds you disappeared somewhere. So great memories 10 years back. So, okay, Watto, let me not waste further time. So, I have around 10 questions to you. So, let me put it straight away. So, basically my first question to you, Watto, you started your career playing lower the order. So, that is how I saw Shane Watson during the initial stages. So, what was the motivation for you to play at the top? Like who was behind it, or you could say something which added you to play at the top? Yeah, so I was all the way through, I was always a top-order batter, through my teenage years. Um, and then even when I started playing first-class cricket for Tasmania, I was like a top three or four batter, but the the Aussie team was so unbelievably strong at that time. So the only opportunity I got was being a fast-bowling all-rounder and batting it like one-day cricket, when I first started, was like seven or eight. So, um, it was more where the opportunity was in the Aussie team because they were so ridiculously strong. Um, and so, so then I needed to work on my, like, my ability to come into the back end of a one-day game, for example, and and power hit, which wasn't my strength at all. I was more of technically correct top-order batter. So, had to develop that skill over time. And then when the opportunities arose, when the those legends started to sort of retire and move on, then I started to work my way up the batting order to, um, end up opening for Australia, which was, um, grateful. So, top-order batter was a great success for you, which we loved actually seeing with the G M bat was unbelievable for us. So, Watto, you have played during a tougher bowler era during the 2000 early 2007 stuffs and you have played during 2015-16 and those times as well. So, who do you think is the most toughest or the scariest bowler you have ever faced? Oh, gosh, I had, there's, well a number. Um, I remember playing, uh, facing Shoaib Akhtar on my 21st birthday, the Gabba that was, um, and he bowled, he bowled very fast that night. Um, the ball was reversing quite early as well. So that was, um, not so pleasant. Um, I would have to say, look, anytime I faced Dale Steyn, I always found him in, especially in Test cricket and one-day cricket. He was someone where I felt like he never bowled me a bad ball. It was always if I if I hit him for a boundary, I'd really have to hit a ball like a good ball to the boundary because I just felt like he never bowled a bad ball. Um, look, I was very fortunate to be able to, I was actually very fortunate to be able to, um, play against Shane Warne in some Shield games. And then obviously playing with him in the Rajasthan Royals for four years as well. I got to face him in the nets a lot as well, and that was one of the most amazing experiences, because he, in my opinion, is, is the best bowler that's ever played, um, of just his ability to be able to work over batsman in all different formats. Um, and I had a yeah, chance to be able to play against him, so he was certainly unbelievably good and a huge challenge. You have traveled to England, you have traveled to Australia, India, and a lot of places. So, which is the most intimidating ground you would say? The crowds being top of you and being pumped up, what would you say? Yeah, gosh, that's a good question. There's, there's a couple that really stand out. There's no doubt that, um, the Wanderers in Johannesburg, when that's a full crowd, that's pretty, that's pretty intimidating. As you're walking out to bat, the crowd's right up to against like, against the race as you walk down. Um, I would, I would say that. Gosh, here in India, I'm trying to think that there's, look, to be honest, anytime you play against India anywhere, and especially, especially in my Test matches, I played quite a few Test matches here in India, but there was never really a full crowd during my Test career, but one day as in T20's, my gosh, that was like intense. Even though it was a different intensity, it was a support intensity, but they also, the thing I love about Indian, um, crowds is that they support and love cricket. Yes, they're intense, but it's not like they're bathing for your blood like the English are at times, New Zealanders and also the South African crowds. Whereas India, of course, they want their team to win, they're very passionate about it. But it's more the love of the game. It's a religion in India. Yeah, it's more of that passion than the the bathing for blood. What, what is the biggest regret in your cricketing career if there is any word? Biggest regret. Look, I'm going to be like, I don't, I don't have any regrets in my life. And I, look, it's, it's interesting you asked me that question, because there's a teacher, a P E teacher at high school that, um, gave me some advice I've lived by throughout throughout my life has been, have no regrets. So, no matter what you do, you give yourself, you go all in to be as good as you can, and then anything that arises, you learn from it. So, even if it's something that you didn't want to happen, or you made the wrong decision, or there was something that happened. It all happened for a reason to be able to learn from. Worst case scenario, if I didn't learn and get it exactly right during my playing days, that now I'm in a situation where I'm a coach to be able to actually pass on that information to hope that the next generation, those, the people coming through can learn from, you know, the things that I wasn't able to get exactly right. So, yeah, I'd never no regrets. So that's what life's all about. Good lesson for all of our followers. And then, Watto, so basically, uh, we see, we saw a photo of you, James Faulkner, and Ricky Ponting in the recent time, which shocked the Internet. So, how is Faulky doing and how about your admiration for Punter? We know you love Punter so much. Yeah. So, that was, that was amazing. We're down in, um, Launceston, and Ricky, um, launching the, the of golf course that he's a part of now. Um, but I actually hadn't seen, I spent a lot of time with Jimmy Faulkner for, gosh, probably about four years, but especially my Rajasthan Royals days, like, we spent a lot of the year together. We were playing one-day cricket for Australia, T20s, Test cricket. That was around, um, 2013 and yeah, 2013. And for the Rajasthan Royals, so Jimmy Faulkner, he's, sadly his career got cut short. Like, in the end, with a knee injury and then some stuff that, like, form wise, ended up finishing in his late 20s. He's only 35 right now. And there's guys still playing M S D, still playing at 44, right? So, he's, he's, he still would be, he really should be playing some great cricket. But look, he's really happy, content with his life and over. Um, but Ricky's been someone who's always, he was my idol growing up, but then to be able to play with him, um, bat with him, and for him to the captain me, um, was very special. He knew how to get the best out of me. And then my first coaching opportunity was with Delhi Capitals under him. So, I owe a ridiculous, like, a huge amount of the life that I've lived to Ricky Ponting. So, we still speak about the 2013 O D I series in India, when James Faulkner smashed Ishant Sharma. Yeah, those two are still very good. So, Faulkner is a very special player to all among Indian fans. And my next question is, Watto, so basically, we have seen legends rating Test cricket higher than any format. So, Test cricket is the pinnacle of cricket, and it's the best format in my opinion. So, how do you rate Shane Watson in that particular format? Was Watson a great Test player, or how do you see Watto in Test? Yeah, it's a great question. I always, like growing up, I just wanted to be the best Test cricketer I could. And then one-day cricket would be a bonus, and there wasn't T20 cricket at that time. So, um, I always wanted to be the very best Test cricketer I could be. There's no doubt I gave everything that I could to be able to try and get closer to mastering Test cricket. And I had a period of time where I was at the top of my game in Test cricket around 2009 through to around 2012. I was, I was batting really well, I was bowling and having impact with the ball, but it was only from, it was only like a probably a two or two and a half year window where I really felt like I was on top of Test cricket. The rest of the time before that and after it, I never really felt like I mastered the game, and it wasn't so much technically as more, more mentally that I felt like I didn't really master the game. Whereas, T20 cricket, one-day cricket, just the way that the game evolved, it sort of, it the way my game was fitted more perfectly. It was more suited to T20 cricket and one-day cricket where I was fearless. I just sort of took on the bowling, whereas when I was had allowed my to get inside my head in Test cricket, I, unfortunately, I did quite a bit. So, Watto, basically, we are we are seeing Australia's current Test cricket and the domestic structure from the Sheffield Shield Marsh One Day Cup growing up. So, what, what do you think about the domestic structure going forward? Are Australia too dependent on the pace bowling trio and who are the players upcoming for the for the Test team or O D I team? How is the structure? Are we gonna see a lot of superstars in the future as well? Um, look, we're not gonna see as many superstars. Indian cricket continues to produce, which is just mind-blowing to see the caliber of cricket as it's coming through the system in India is mind-blowing and scary for the rest of the world to be totally honest. Uh, when it comes to Australian cricket, we've got some depth, but it's nowhere near as strong as it has been in the past. There's no doubt like, and we will continue to see it. Look, even during these Ashes, um, even with Josh Hazelwood being injured, um, Pat Cummins being injured, there's a number of guys who really stepped up and did a brilliant job. Michael Nesser came in and did a brilliant job just to just to name one of them. But it's gonna be really interesting to see once like Steve Smith and that generation of cricketers sort of like end up moving, moving on and they stop playing Test cricket, and when our like our big four bowlers, Hazelwood, Starc, Cummins, and Lyon, once they retire, I'm not as confident that we've got another sort of crop of of, um, cricketers coming through to that, um, you know, world-class, um, quality. So, it's gonna be interesting to see how it does flush through. But I think for most Test nations, I'd say, really, probably apart from India, it is going to be a challenging time. Once this generation who've come through just like wanting to play Test cricket and the other formats are a bonus. This younger generation, I'd say, who are probably in their teens at the moment, what are they going to be desperate to play Test cricket and be the best Test cricket they can be? Or is it which pushes their body mentally and technically, it's as challenging as it gets? Or do they want to just be free, go and play T20 cricket, and just take the game on and and just move on? So, that's going to be the time where I think we see around the world to see where things are at. So, it's a bit sad for us to see Australia in the recent I C C tournaments. But hopefully we expect them to come back stronger as always. We hope so. And, Watto, which is your favorite city in India? Like, you have had, you have gone through many cities, any memorable experience in India? Oh, gosh, it's too many to, too many to mention. Um, and I would say one place that is if I think about my time in India, I would say probably the one place that is most special to me is Jaipur. And the reason why Jaipur is because playing the Rajasthan Royals, our first, you know, a number of years we played in Jaipur, um, that was really the, the, the turning point in my career career was the IPL in 2008. I sort of, I'd been injured on and off for previous few years with the Australian team. I'd just sort of been dropped from Test, like, the Test squad, Sammy, sort of being dropped from the one-day squad. And the IPL came along at the right time with Shane Warne, who always believed in me anyway, to get me to the Rajasthan Royals and, and believe in me and give me the opportunities that they believed was what my skill could, um, handle. And from then on, things just sort of just skyrocketed from there. So, and the time that I spent in Jaipur, is a lot of special memories and now even more so with Shane Warne, you know, sadly not with us anymore, it just makes those memories I had in Jaipur with him even more special. Such a tough warrior saying what we are always in our hearts. So, Watto, if I could ask about your happiest moment in your cricketing career between the 2009 Champions Trophy, where you scored back-to-back 100s in the semis and finale, and as well as in the 2006 Champions Trophy, that era or that players were different when compared to the 2015 World Cup winning moment at your home ground, where I still see the frame of you and Smudge, you know, being, being pumped up in that occasion. So, which is your favorite cricketing, I mean, happiest moment in your career? Oh, gosh, that's a, that's a great question. And look, I, I feel very unbelievably lucky to have had so many, a lot of incredible memories in my throughout my career career. And there's no question, like, the 2006 Champions Trophy that we won here, that side that I was, that I was playing in. And fortunately, I opened the batting with Adam Gilchrist in that during that series as well, was something very special. Um, the 2009 Champions Trophy was the first time as an opening batter where I felt like I could win, really win games for Australia off my own bat as an all-rounder. So, really that was the time where I really felt like I had what it took to be able to perform really well in I C C events. Um, but the ones that sort of stand out the most, there's two that stand out the most. One is the 2015 World Cup, being in the middle with Steve Smith, when he hit those winning runs, was at the M C G. I like, that is a moment that you dream of as a kid, is being in the middle. You dream of hitting the winning runs, got to miss down on that, but just to be in the middle when that happened, that was something very special. And look, one of the most recent memories that is so unbelievably special as well, as my first season with C S K with C S K, was actually being out in the middle there. Been able to perform like I did with C S K, giving me an opportunity at that stage in my career and believing in me, getting me to open the batting and been able to play with such a, an incredible franchise, incredible people and been able to perform like that in a final, that is something that I will always cherish. The streets will never forget the bleeding knee, Watto. And 2009 Champions Trophy is very special. It was because a lot of our prime core team retired.
[16:26]You can see Gilchrist, Hayden, McGrath, and all of our legends getting retired and a young team stepped up under Punter's captaincy. So that was very special for us. It was, yeah, and that, and I know for Ricky, that was, I remember at the time him saying to me, like, this is actually one of the most special achievements I've had as captain, because of the change, the significant change over from the 2007 World Cup that that the Aussie team won to the 2009 Champions Trophy, there was such a huge turnover of players there. The batting lineup, the bowlers. So, um, I know how big, big an achievement Ricky felt it was in his illustrious captaincy career, and I knew how special it was for for me and us at the time as well, knowing the transition that happened over those couple of years. Well, some more of this other questions. I have a few more questions. Yeah. So, basically, Watto, you have played for Rajasthan Royals as well as Chennai Super Kings during the IPL franchise. For Rajasthan Royals, I was very emotionally connected when you were batting with that G M bat. I don't know, I have so much obsession with that G M bat, and yeah, spinners get scared when you bat. Especially when you hit through the deep mid-wicket region, but no, that was something unimaginable. So, we loved that Watson so much, especially during that game versus Mumbai Indians when Rahul Dravid threw his hat. And that why I cried that night. That was so pain. So, you have been through Rajasthan Royals, as well as Chennai Super Kings. So, but do you think even in a very short span, C S K fans were very much emotionally connected to Shane Watson? How do, what do you think? Yeah, it's a great question, Karthik, because like I had eight seasons at the Rajasthan Royals and built a, you know, a great and a tight connection with Rajasthan Royals, with the fans, with the, with the ownership. Um, and that was a really special time in my life. There's no question.
[18:14]I had two seasons at at, um, at R C B, which, which was a great experience. And they certainly, the R C B fans certainly in year one in particular were great. But it's just so, I find it hard to believe, I find it hard to believe the ridiculous support that I've had from the time that I came in and did what I did in the first year with C S K. Everywhere I go around the world, it seems like there's like 995% of cricket fans around the world that I interact with, are C S K fans, and, because of, for whatever reason, because of what I did in in year one in particular, the support has been mind-blowing. And it's over, it's honestly, it's overwhelming to see the continued support that I have for from C S K fans all around the world. And it honestly feels like, it feels like I played with C S K for the majority of my career because of the support that I still have even now. Um, you know, five years after playing in my last IPL for C S K, but it just seems Rajasthan Royals fans, they have to have long memories for me to be playing there, but the C S K fans, it's, honestly, it's overwhelming. It's incredible. So, yeah, so this or that you have to say only one. Watto, so my next question is, Western Australian cricket, the talent they produce, or New South Wales? So, which one would you choose? A lot of fans. So, New South Wales cricket in the past, but W A cricket now, no question, they keep producing a ridiculous amount of cricketers and they have the last probably five years or so. Okay, so my next question is we have seen Tendulkar batted at his prime, the stardom, the superstar culture. You have seen M S D at his prime, Dhoni, and you have seen Virat Kohli even now.
[20:00]So, which fan base or stardom do you think was at the peak, was untouchable, like it was at the peak? You can say only one between M S or Sachin or Virat.
[20:12]I would have to say, because I've seen it up close is, is M S D. For what, for what ever, like, I know the reason, not whatever reason, but for all the reasons, just people, just love everything about this. And people love everything about him. The way he goes about on the field, the way he's off the field, how humble he is, how genuine he is. Um, and you can see now, like every, like, when he goes out to bat, it's like you're in a movie set. Oh, he goes out to bat, there's his cameras on everywhere, like, everyone's holding their breath, it's just, it's like an out-of-body experience when you see M S D go out to bat now. And I know, I'm sure that'll probably happen when Virat's sort of is getting like closer to the end of his career. I'm sure that'll probably happen, but I've never really experienced anything like that. Tendulkar in the past. Tendulkar, of course, and you like you think about watching from afar, his 200th Test that he played, right, when he when he played at at Mumbai, at Wankhede Stadium. You saw that from afar. And there's no question. They cried. The entire stadium cried, and they can they would do anything. Especially, Watto, Sachin's innings is about that 175 in Hyderabad, where Australia were 350 and India had to chase it. The one man, he kind of took away the innings, but was still not able to. Yeah, that was a ridiculous innings. So, my next question is, Watto, as a batter, who do you think is the toughest bloke to face? Is it Dale Steyn, Mitchell Starc, or Jasprit Bumrah? If you can choose only one run. No, that's easy.
[21:48]Who could it be? Jasprit Bumrah. I think he is that ridiculously good. Okay. In all formats, his ability at speed to be able to swing the ball both ways. Um, he's maintains and sustains his pace. He's different as well. So, whereas someone like Dale Steyn, even though he's great and he hardly bowl you loose ball, you can see the ball the whole way and you're sort of used to facing bowlers along those lines. Even though he's like he didn't give you a loose ball, Mitchell Starc, tall left-armer, you don't face those that often. But it's more conventional, sort of beautiful action. Whereas Jasprit, just the way he's run up, everything, the ball comes out, but then his ability to be able to execute his change of pace, his bouncer, he's yorker. It's something else. So, I personally expected you to say Dale Steyn, because Australia were a bit concerned with South Africa during all those. Oh, yeah, for sure. Dale was ridiculously good. But I just think Jasprit Bumrah, to be able to swing the ball both ways with the skill that he has. Like, I remember that the last series that he had out in Australia, it just looked like he was playing with the batter until it just was his time to go bang your out, get out. He was just that good. Okay. So, now you assume that you are playing a World Championship final. You go to two different venues. One, a complete green track where the ball is moving a lot, and it's very hard to play for the batters. It's a complete swinging pitch. On the other hand, you see a dust bowl. I mean, in terms of it's a rank turner. You, you can't, you can't even see the ball, it's complete of tracks. So, you don't know where it's coming. So, where would you play in a green top or a spin field green top? Green top. We still sort of grow up on more green tops and having to find a way to be able to to be able to get through. It is unbelievably challenging on a green top anyway. But because we are more accustomed to having to navigate our way through it, we would have a better chance. Doesn't mean it is a good chance, but a better chance of being able to perform. Whereas on a dusty wicket, because we don't grow up on dusty wickets, that it is just so foreign. And that's why every time we played against India on dusty pitches, even though it was really challenging for their batters as well, they were just that little bit more equipped to dealing with it and getting a few more runs than we than we did in a Test match. Okay, my last question, Watto. So, as an Australian fan or cricket fan, it's been a quite long time since you retired. People are always looking for replacements when a player retires. So, when Cameron Green was picked by K K R under Shane Watson's as an assistant coach, people felt so happy. Because Shane Watson is that kind of player who can mold Cameron Green as like what Watto could do. So, that is what people expect from Cameron Green. So, how do you rate Cameron Green as an all-rounder or batter? And from we are, we haven't won a game yet. So, we are at bottom of the table. But we expect K K R to come back stronger. Yeah. So, what, what do you, what's your message to the fans and about Cameron Green as. So, Cam Green and the people who really, like, like, know enough about Cam Green, we like we all talk about it. We know how ridiculously good he is. Like, I think about like attributes I had as a cricketer. This guy's got so many more attributes and then some as a cricketer. He's tall, he bowls fast, he swings the ball both ways. He's, he's endurance wise, his body is actually quite good. He hasn't had a lot of injuries. Batting wise, he's, he's got power, he's got beautiful technique as well. So, for me, that's where this opportunity to be able to work with him, like, like, closely. I've had conversations with him here and there over the years, but to be able to actually have a chance to be able to work with him really closely. I know that I can just give him enough the right information to be able to really realize for everyone to be able to see this ridiculous talent that he has. Honestly, it's, and we've seen it, you know, an evening's that he got 100 for the Mumbai Indians in T20 cricket. He's bowling when he's at his best. So, when, when he's at his best, he's as good as there is in the world as a, he's a complete cricketer. Um, the biggest, the the biggest thing that he is chasing is just consistency of being at his very best across all three formats. And for me, like, I believe that's not far away at all. He's only, he's only 27. Like, I think about 2008 IPL, I was 27, or 26, turning 27. So, that was when things really sort of took off for me. So, we at because Cam Cam Green started young, we sort of, you know, we expect him to be able to shoot the lights out straight up. But it takes time to be able to find the right blend and the right balance. So, yet for me, it's not gonna, it's gonna be a moment where he just finds the exact sort of groove that he needs and then he's going to dominate everywhere he plays. Watto, personally, uh, beyond cricket, it takes a a better mental peace or, you know, good state of mind to be in a good zone to play cricket. So, how supportive was your family during you the venue, the game you played, or how was the bonding between them in terms of you coming from the match because you might not be able to frequently travel with them or some concerns or whatever. So, how supportive was your family during your cricket? Um, my family has always been ridiculously supportive. Like, my my mum and dad and my sister certainly were just gave me every opportunity to be the best that I could be. And then, uh, my wife, Lee, from the moment we sort of started seeing each other, the support that she gave me, the freedom she gave me to be, because to be as good as you can, there has to be, you have to be a bit selfish in certain ways. Um, and then when, you know, my kids came along, Willa Matilda came along, but she was on tour straight away, like, to to be able to ensure that I was able to build a bond with my with my kids, even while still pushing limit to see how good I could be as a cricketer as well. So, um, a very, I'm a very lucky man. And thankfully doing the interview because of me. Yeah, they were, they definitely. So, one message to you fans, Watto, of all around the corner or C S K fans, R R fans, Australian fans, what would you say? Look, the one thing that I, I just feel honestly so grateful and, um, very humbled by the support that I that I've had throughout, well, now, throughout my career and now, um, to to think that I've been able to do something that people have appreciated and and appreciated like they have, especially here in India, is I never, ever, ever take it for granted. And it's something that feels, it's the reason why I love coming to India, and probably the main reason is because we all love cricket so much. So, it's a great way to be able to sort of celebrate the game that we all love. And, um, and I certainly have always very much appreciate the love and sport I've had here. Thank you so much, Watto, for joining the show. Watto joined us amidst his busy schedule and a lot of tight things going on. So, we are always thankful and grateful to the streets will never forget Shane Watson, 33.
