Zero To Hero - - Shane Watson's ICC Champions Trophy Journey: Started With Two Duck, Ended Up With Two Big Tons

SHANE Watson started the Champions Trophy with two ducks and finished it with two sixes.

It was the story of his journey from frustration to fulfillment contained in a single tournament, in which Watson has proved himself a worthy successor to Matthew Hayden at the top of the order and - dare we say it - established himself among the world's top all-rounders.

Ricky Ponting's satisfaction at adding a second Champions Trophy to the two World Cups he has won as captain was amplified by the contribution of a new generation of cricketers, with Watson leading the charge and Cameron White, Callum Ferguson and Tim Paine catching some time in the sun in the moments when it was not blocked out by the all-rounder's Adonis-like form. Never mind that Watson has been around for seven years; the past few months culminating with his unbeaten 136 and 105 in the finals have signalled his arrival in both forms of the game.

In that time, Watson has finally learnt to keep a lid on his bubbling emotions. He did well after replacing Phillip Hughes in the Test team despite knowing he had flopped in his only first-class forays as an opener, did not resort to self-flagellation when he notched his third consecutive duck in the group game against India and blossomed spectacularly in the most important games with clean hitting and composure.

He finished the Champions Trophy with fewer runs than Ponting, but made his 265 at 88.33 in just three games. In the matches when he failed with the bat he made himself useful with the ball during the middle overs, finishing with six wickets at 25.61.

''The last couple of months of his cricket life, we've started to see the real Shane Watson,'' said Ponting, who took over as one-day captain at the same time as Watson stepped on to the international stage, in 2002. The skipper kept the faith through all Watson's injuries, perhaps envisaging a time when he would be among the most valuable players in a developing side.

''Getting his opportunity in the Ashes to open the batting, which is a position he's probably not been accustomed to, he played beautifully there. Now back at full fitness and being able to operate with the ball and at the top of the order with the bat he's showing how good a cricketer he can be.''

Watson now boasts a Hayden-esque average of 49.68 as an opener in one-day internationals, having watched the intimidating Queenslander closely from his previous positions, in the middle order and, for longer than he cares to remember, out of the team. Ironically,

he was recalled to replace Hayden after he emerged with an Achilles injury from last year's Indian Premier League, the very competition that rekindled Watson's career.

''That was a massive turning point in my career to be able to play on such a big stage when I wasn't playing for Australia,'' he said.

''Of course, seeing Matt Hayden and Adam Gilchrist bat the way they did, there is obviously a big opportunity for me to try and fill the void there because we always got off to flyers. Adam and Matt always got big totals especially in big events, Adam Gilchrist in the World Cup final and Matt Hayden throughout the whole World Cup.

''You've got to be in a good place mentally, but previously I have taken it has been more than a game. The thing that stands out to me was the semi-final of the World Cup in 2007 in South Africa. I was that pumped up to do well, but I didn't do that well because I was a bit overawed by the situation. Today, to be involved in such a great win, it's one of the better feelings I have had in my career.''

New Zealand's acting captain, Brendon McCullum, could not hide his admiration for Watson. ''He's done brilliantly, particularly the way he came back from two noughts in the first two matches in this tournament. To come back and score back-to-back hundreds in the semi-final and the final is a brilliant effort. It's hard for him as well, most of the time he is bowling 10 overs and then walks out there and opens the batting. He seems to have a pretty good grasp of it at the moment and I'm sure he will continue to score runs and win games for Australia.''