On-cue Watson delivers another dramatic exit

The Christmas pantomime season is supposed to be over but Shane Watson and Simon Katich managed to perform their own accidental comic routine on cricket's biggest stage on Boxing Day. Their problem was that nobody in the crowd yelled "he's behind you!" In isolation, Watson's peculiar run-out for 93 would have been considered unlucky but after the month he's had, twice before falling painfully short of a maiden Test century, it took on tragicomic proportions.

In the first innings in Adelaide, Watson went to bed on 96 and a rush of blood in the first over the next morning caused him to attempt a pull, only to see his middle stump knocked back. In the first innings at the WACA, he edged a good delivery behind for 89. So, when he went to tea against Pakistan on 90, it seemed inevitable that something would get in the way of his intended festivities. He'd blamed himself in Adelaide, the bowler had denied him in Perth, so why not round it out with his own partner causing the heartache in Melbourne?

Right on cue, less than five minutes into the final session, Katich nudged to cover and took a few steps before turning and walking back to his crease. Unaware his partner had bailed, Watson kept coming and unwittingly found himself in a photo finish with Katich to see who made their ground at the striker's end while the stumps at the bowler's end were broken. All that was missing was the Benny Hill music.

When Katich turned around, he was surprised to see his partner standing less than a metre behind him, with a look of barely disguised aggravation on his face. Watson has seen plenty of Katich over the past few weeks as they've taken their opening partnership from strength to strength but this was one time he didn't want to view his colleague from such close quarters. His foot had touched down in the crease a split second after Katich's, and the third umpire ruled Watson out.

As he trudged off in front of 59,206 fans and a worldwide TV audience, Watson tried to look impassive but he was angry. An hour after play he still hadn't spoken to Katich about the run-out, although that was largely because Katich remained upset at his own failure to score a century when he was caught on 98. Watson was philosophical in not apportioning blame, but he was honest about his feelings.

"It took a little while [to calm down]," Watson said. "I definitely needed my time to myself for about an hour or so. But you're always disappointed to get out, especially run-outs aren't ideal. It took me a little while to calm down but as a big picture I'd definitely take 93 at the start of the day on my first Boxing Day Test.

"I definitely knew it must have been me that was out because we both ended up the same spot and he came from that end. It's just one of those things that was not destined to be today, unfortunately. I'm just so happy the way I'm hitting the ball and I feel very confident now opening the batting for Australia and feel like I can set up a good platform for the team. I know one day hopefully [a century] will come."

Watson has reason to look on the bright side. The 182-run partnership was the third century stand between he and Katich in three Tests, after they also gave Australia excellent starts in Adelaide and Perth. It was their highest stand and the fifth-best opening partnership Australia have ever enjoyed in a Melbourne Test. Watson and Katich are in illustrious company; the four higher efforts involved Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer twice, Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson, and Lawry and Ian Redpath.

Watson provides the momentum in the pairing, often hovering at about double Katich's score. His straight driving has been especially strong this summer and a series of superbly-timed, punchy strokes raced past the bowler and umpire and away to the MCG boundary rope. His pulling has been another impressive feature and although a couple of times today he miscued and ended up pirouetting 360 degrees like a ballet dancer, his positive approach has a demoralising effect on the opposition bowlers.

Since becoming a Test opener on the Ashes tour in July, Watson has made six half-centuries and is averaging 54.18. Of his batting colleagues, only Michael Clarke has a marginally higher figure in the same period. Watson will get over his latest near miss - after stumps he was already smiling and joking about it - and it's an attitude that should help ensure his career ends in dramatic triumph rather than tragedy.