Cricket World Player Of The Week - Shane Watson

Cricket World Player Of The Week - Shane Watson

Shane Watson has been the outstanding player of this year's ICC World T20 to date.

©REUTERS/Philip Brown. Picture Supplied by Action Images

With the ICC World Twenty20 having completed its second week and the women's tournament also having got underway, there are, once again, plenty of contenders for this week's Cricket World Player of the Week award.

However, it is last week's winner Shane Watson, who is again the winner. He extended his run of man of the match awards to four as he played prominent roles in Australia's super eight wins over India and South Africa and took them to the brink of qualifying for semi-finals.

Against India, he took three for 34 with the ball to help restrict them to 140 for seven, and then hit 72 off only 42 balls, including seven sixes, as Australia romped home with nine wickets and 31 balls to spare. Meanwhile, against South Africa, he took two more wickets and then struck a blazing 70 off only 47 balls.

He is now the tournament's leading run-scorer and wicket-taker, has hit the most sixes by any batsman, and is yet to be dismissed for less than 50 in any of his four innings.

Commenting on his outstanding performances, Watson was modest, saying, "Things are just falling my way at the moment. Even against South Africa, bowling-wise the wicket of AB de Villiers wasn't one of the better balls I bowled, especially with the field I had. Batting-wise I knew how important it was to get through the first four or five overs with the quality of quick bowlers South Africa had, and then you sort of hope you can get away. You've just got to make the most of it when you can because I know how quickly it can turn and your form can go against you."

Other contenders for this week's award were Mahela Jayawardene, who hit 65 not out and 44 against West Indies and New Zealand; Eoin Morgan, who hit a majestic unbeaten 71 to take England close against the West Indies; and Virat Kohli, who continued his superb 2012 with an undefeated 78 to guide India to victory in their must-win game against Pakistan.

In the women's event, Sophie Devine, Deandra Dottin, Laura Marsh, Poonam Raut and Charlotte Edwards have all hit half-centuries, while Stafanie Taylor has been in outstanding all-round form for the West Indies and is the joint leading wicket-taker, alongside New Zealander Erin Bermingham, as well as being the seventh highest run getter.