Top 5 players who could replace Shane Watson in Australia's Test side

Watson announced his Test retirement recentlyA true all-rounder is someone who is equally adept with both the bat and ball and has the ability to make it into the team purely as a bowler or a batsman. They give a team the much-needed balance and give the team management the flexibility of playing an extra bowler or a batsman depending on the pitch conditions. Very few in the history of cricket have been genuine world class all-rounders; the likes of Sir Gary Sobers, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, and Jacques Kallis would fall in that elite bracket.Although recently retired Australian all-rounder Shane Watson may not be considered in the same league as the above-mentioned legends, he did a satisfactory job for Australia for about ten years. Watson played 59 Tests for Australia, scoring 3,731 runs, taking 75 wickets and holding 45 catches. Watson called time on his Test career after he sustained a series-ending calf injury in the controversial 64-run ODI win over England at Lords in the second ODI of the on-going 5-match ODI series.As the Queenslander bows out of Test cricket leaving a huge void in the Australian team, we look at 5 players who can replace him in the Test side.

#1 Mitchell Marsh

Marsh replaced Watson after the first Ashes Test

The front-runner to replace Watson, in the long run is, Mitchell Marsh. The 23- year old Western Australian in fact replaced Watson in the second Ashes Test match at Lords last month. Watson was dropped after poor performances with the bat and ball in the first Test at Cardiff, which eventually turned out to be his last Test for Australia. Marsh picked up 8 wickets in the three Ashes Test matches that he played and picked up his career-best 3/30 in the final Test match at the Oval.

Mitchell, son of former Aussie keeper Geoff Marsh, is a strong hitter of the cricket ball and is a mid 80-miles per hour bowler, which is what most cricket teams are looking for in an all-rounder. He can bat at No 5 or No 6 and dominate bowling line ups. He is likely to be given a long run in the side now.

Tom Moody, former Australian cricketer and now a commentator who has followed Mitchell from his younger days, believes that he has what it takes to become the world’s No.1 all-rounder. At just 23, Mitchell certainly has age by his side to prove Tom right.

#2 James Faulkner

Faulkner played his one and only Test match two years ago

The second man who can get in the Aussie Test team is James Faulkner. He’s played just one Test match and that came two years ago against England at the Oval. Man of the Match of the World Cup final in 2015, Faulkner has been typecast as a white-ball cricketer because of his variations with the ball and the ability to smash sixes lower down the order.

But there is more to Faulkner than just power hitting. He could play as a 4th seam bowler and bat at No 6 or 7. Marsh is probably a better batsman than Faulkner, but he certainly cannot be neglected for too long. He’s shown in his short career that he excels under pressure and may be the Test arena is beckoning for him.

#3 Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell can be a useful player in India or the UAE

Well, many would be surprised to see Maxwell’s name here in the list. He certainly isn’t a like for like replacement for Watson considering he’s an off spinner, but if you look at what Maxwell brings to the table, he’s someone worth the risk.

‘Maxi’ as he’s known popularly has matured as a cricketer in the last 12 months or so and what has been most impressive is that his bowling has improved considerably. He regularly bowls his quota in the One-Day games now and played as a lone spinner for Australia in the World Cup.

Maxwell has played Test matches in the past in India and in the UAE versus Pakistan. However, his performances have been way below par. But Maxwell is a much-improved player now and a very good option to have especially when Australia is playing in the sub-continent or in UAE.

#4 Moises Henriques

Henriques is a like-for-like replacement for Shane Watson

Next in line is New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques. The 28-year old recently made his comeback from a nasty jaw injury which he suffered in a match for his county side Surrey. Henriques had to have three surgeries to fix his jaw, after Rory Burns' (his club teammate) knee crashed into his head while they were attempting the same catch. The match was abandoned because both players had been knocked unconscious and were attended to by medical staff and taken to hospital by ambulances.

Henriques has played three Test matches in his career so far; all against India in India with a highest score of 81 not out on debut in Chennai. Indian fans would know him well as he’s a regular in the IPL where he currently plays for the Sunrisers Hyderabad team. He fits in Watson’s shoes perfectly as he tries to swing the ball and bats aggressively when needed.

#5 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh can add depth to Australia’s batting

The Australian batting of late has been very vulnerable with only Steve Smith and David Warner looking really dangerous. The rest of the batsmen look out of sorts. If one looks at the Ashes, which Australia lost 3-2, only the top 3 (Warner, Rodgers & Smith) of Australia were among the runs. With Rodgers, Michael Clarke and Watson retiring post the Ashes debacle, Australia suddenly look short of experienced batsmen.

In such a case it won’t be such a bad idea to go in with 6 frontline batsmen, one wicket keeper (Nevill) and four bowlers for the time being. Someone like Shaun Marsh can play ahead of the all-rounders and give the team the solidity which they are lacking. The great Australian side of the early 2000s played with Gilchrist at No 7 and dominated world cricket. Of course the pedigree of that side was way higher than the current side but Darren Lehman and his support staff has to figure out what’s best suited to them.