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Cape Town - Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has named South Africa paceman Dale Steyn and England seamer Stuart Broad as the toughest bowlers he has faced in Test cricket.
Watson, currently playing in the IPL, praised Steyn for his extremem fitness and late swing, and he admitted Broad was 'very challenging' to play on any surface.
Watson said on the CA website: "The one that consistently comes back is Dale Steyn, especially in Test cricket.
"Just how relentless he is with the new ball, he doesn't really give you anything to hit, he swings the ball very late.
"He's got an incredible engine as well. His ability to keep coming back, his energy in his last spell when the ball starts doing something is pretty amazing.
"You can see why he's got the record that he does."
As for Broad, who has dismissed Watson the most out of any bowler in Tests, the all-rounder added: "Stuart Broad I always found very challenging.
"He's always very accurate, always at my stumps consistently. In Ashes Tests, especially in England, he ripped the heart out of us.
"I can think of three times where the game was in the balance and he ripped the heart out of us; one in Durham (in 2013), I wasn't playing, but Trent Bridge last year, and then at The Oval, my first Ashes series in 2009.
"He got four or five quick wickets and ripped the hearts out of us. "He just had that ability and the teams I was in couldn’t stop the momentum."
The all-rounder was also quick to answer when asked about closer to home, naming Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath as his greatest team-mates.
Watson said when asked about his best colleagues: "No doubt Ricky Ponting.
"When he was at his peak he was incredible. And everything he did in and around the team as captain was very good.
"Shane Warne, with the incredible skill that he had. His amazing belief in his skill and how he could turn a game consistently.
"And what a great leader he was as well. I had him at Rajasthan for four years and he was incredible.
"Glenn McGrath was phenomenal with what he was able to achieve. What he was able to do as a fast bowler was … I'd be surprised if anyone gets near his record.
"With all the cricket that's played, and Twetny20 cricket, to play more than 100 Test and take 560-odd wickets I'd be surprised if anyone goes near that.
"There are so many others – Adam Gilchrist – but those are the three that stand out the most."
