Cricket World® Player Of The Week - Shane Watson

Cricket World® Player Of The Week - Shane Watson

Shane Watson hits out during his century

©Action Images/ Jason O'Brien Livepic

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has been named as the Cricket World® Player Of The Week following three outstanding performances against England.

He helped Australia draw a two-match Twenty20 International series 1-1 and then go 1-0 up in the seven-match One-Day International series with a six-wicket win in Melbourne.

In the first T20 game in Adelaide, Watson hit 59 in 31 balls to top score as Australia posted 157 for four and he then produced a fine spell of bowling, returning four for 15 to almost turn the game around before England inched over the line for a one-wicket victory.

Watson was not to be denied, however, as when the series moved on to Melbourne, he scored 17, then took the wickets of Steve Davies and Paul Collingwood to return two for 17 as Australia scored a three-run win.

If his performance in the Twenty20s was impressive, then what followed in the opening ODI was exceptional. Chasing a target of 295 to win, Watson scored a career-best of 161 not out in 150 balls to steer his side home in the final over.

His innings included 12 fours and four sixes and helped his side score more runs batting second in an ODI at the M.C.G than ever before.

Other contenders for the weekly award included South Africa's Lonwabo Tsotsobe, India's Munaf Patel and West Indies' Stafanie Taylor.

© Cricket World 2011