Shane Watson shares insights on format transition, batting volume and switch from Kookaburra to Dukes

Shane Watson and Australia Team. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Australia are gearing up and all set to go to face India in the World Test Championship 2023 final, followed by The Ashes against England. This tour, for the Pat Cummins-led side, will roughly last a couple of months, wherein they will be playing as many as six Tests. Thus, in order to prepare well for the all-important trip, many players in the squad opted out of the Indian Premier League 2023.

However, players like Cameron Green, David Warner, and Josh Hazlewood took part for their respective franchises in the cash-rich league. Playing for Mumbai Indians, Green featured throughout the tournament and was an integral member of the Rohit Sharma-led side picking up six wickets and smashing 452 runs at a strike rate in excess of 160. Now, the 24-year-old will have to switch format and conditions while featuring for the Aussies in the longest format of the game.

In the same vein, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has opined about the transitional phase ahead of the England tour for Green and Warner to be "extreme". 

"There's no doubt that this transition period for the guys, I think is going to have to be extreme. (They need to) Get as much volume as they possibly can facing new balls, trying to get the nets as spiced up as possible," Watson told ESPNCricinfo. 

Watson, who himself had to switch formats and prepare for The Ashes after the conclusion of the 2013 and 2015 editions of the IPL, advised the young Aussie all-rounder to face as many balls as he can and try to get into rhythm and make a fresh start to his first-ever red-ball assignment in English conditions. Moreover, the 41-year-old also advised Green to have a positive mindset as well as an aggressive intent to be able to take a higher amount of risks while donning the Baggy Green.

"That's the only way you can get your game back into hitting the ball under your eyes. Yes, you need that positive, aggressive intent but still understanding what balls you can score off and what balls are higher risk," Watson further added.

Meanwhile, the challenge to face the Dukes ball was also something that drew the Queensland-born's attention, and he stated that it will be tough to handle, as it is the one that swings consistently. Adding to this, he also mentioned the indispensable amount of significance that tour matches can have in getting a player prepared for an important clash.

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