Run-hungry Shane Watson says Brisbane Heat’s last-minute recruit Thisara Perera will thrill Gabba fans with his explosive hitting in Sunday’s Twenty20 Big Bash League clash with the Hobart Hurricanes.
Heat officials moved swiftly to sign the dashing 23-year-old Sri Lankan after the shock withdrawal of South African speedster Dale Steyn on top of losing Kiwi spinner Daniel Vettori to injury.
Watson was glowing in his description of Perera, who took a hat-trick in this year’s one-day series against Pakistan.
“Absolutely – he’s a great get. He’s a very talented allrounder who can hit the ball a long, long way as he showed in the recent Twenty20 World Cup,” Watson said on Friday.
“He bowls a very handy medium-fast which will also be very handy at the Gabba.
“He’s a very good inclusion especially after losing Steyn and Vettori.”
Watson plans on doing some blasting of his own following a frustrating summer once again plagued by injury setbacks.
“I hope so. It’s been frustrating missing the first two Tests,” said Watson who’ll open the batting for the Heat and also bowl.
“The hardest part is getting started again and getting back into some good form.”
Watson said there was never any chance of sitting out the Heat’s opening Big Bash game after making his latest injury comeback in the third Test in Perth.
“When I am fit, I want to play any cricket – whether it’s a Twenty20 game or a Test match or a domestic game.
“I just want to continue getting my body used to doing what I want it to do, and that’s play cricket.”
He said playing the explosive form of the game gave him the chance to sharpen his hand-eye reflexes and get his skills up to where they needed to be to take on the best players in the world.
And what about bowling a bouncer or two at his recently-retired Test teammate Ricky Ponting on Sunday after sharing in his emotional farewell Test?
“Late on Monday night, I was talking about giving him a few half-volleys but, now things have settled down a little bit, that might turn into a bouncer,” he laughed.
