SHANE Watson has proved to be the shining gem in Australia’s cricket line up.

From that raw blond haired bowler that made his name a few years back to that hard-hitting match-winner that he is today.

He has surely transformed his game since the Ashes to make his mark as an opening batsmen.

But it does prove that cricket is now a game of all-rounders.

You need to have a load of good batsmen and a few elite bowlers in the team to have a match-winning line-up.

Watson has really risen to a rare talent in the team where he has taken tests by the scruff of the neck, although going out in the 90s by confusion on Boxing Day was a little mistake that most will forget.

The fact is Watson two years ago would have dreamt of consistently making high scores.

Now he is; and Australians have a new blond haired hero.