Sydney, Dec. 5 (ANI): Australian batting coach Stuart Law reckons Shane Watson's struggle to convert starts into Test tons is "all mental" and has offered him help to become a world-class international batsman.
Regarded as one of the most technically proficient batsmen in Australian cricket, Watson is currently under mounting pressure to break his century drought in the upcoming Sri Lankan series after twin failures in the third Test against South Africa in Perth.
The vice-captain has also been criticised for failing to turn promising starts into match-winning tons and, after falling for 10 and 25 at the WACA Ground, Watson now has two centuries from 66 Test innings.
"It's all mental. Shane knows it (his poor conversion rate) more than anyone and when he gets around 80 and 90 he probably tries too hard and that can be to your detriment as well," News.com.au quoted Law, as saying.
"People want it so bad sometimes that you try so hard ... instead of relaxing and letting it happen, you're out there trying to make it happen. That's a mental block and I'm sure once Watto scores a few more centuries, it will become more natural and he'll understand how to get big hundreds," he added.
"Once that happens, hopefully the floodgates open and the centuries come," he said.
According to the report, Law, who played just one Test despite thumping 27,080 first-class runs at a brilliant 50.52, is keen to work with Watson during his tenure as Australian batting coach.
"If Shane or anyone wants to talk to me about batting, I'm pretty well versed in it. I didn't play a lot of international cricket, but I've played cricket under all sorts of conditions. I've had to deal with being picked, being axed, being ignored, and turning it around and making it work for me," he said.
"Shane's recent record might suggest he's not (in Australia's top-six batsmen), but that doesn't mean he's not one of our best. He is a dangerous, destructive brute of a batsman, he's one guy you want fit and playing in your team," he added. (ANI)
