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Speculation about Australian vice-captain Shane Watson’s Test future was put to bed yesterday with an announcement that he will return to India after serving a one-match ban.
The 31-year-old returned to Sydney last Tuesday after he was dropped for the third Test after failing to prepare feedback on how the team could improve and deliver it to management.
Three other players were also axed. Watson, whose wife gave birth last week, made clear he felt the punishment was overly harsh and said he would be considering his future, but has decided to battle on.
“Shane Watson will return to the tour of India and will fly out of Sydney tonight to join the Australian squad in India ahead of the fourth Test,” Cricket Australia said in a brief statement.His dumping fuelled rumours of a rift with skipper Michael Clarke, which was intensified by Cricket Australia general manager Pat Howard saying Watson was only “sometimes” a team player. Watson, who has known Clarke for 20 years, insisted their relationship was “going really well”.
If he had decided to quit, Clarke would have been desperately short of experience ahead of an Ashes double header against England starting in July, after the recent retirement of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey.
AFP is not covering the four-Test series between India and Australia after the Board of Control for Cricket in India failed to lift restrictions on picture agencies.
Meanwhile Australia skipper Michael Clarke was happy with the way his boys showed some character in the third Test but gave the credit to India for winning the third Test at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium yesterday.
“I think we showed character. But we have to give credit to India,” said Clarke, after Australia surrendered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Clarke said the start provided by Shikhar Dhawan (187) and Murali Vijay (153) was the key. The duo added 289 runs for the first wicket.
“The start that Dhawan and Vijay gave was outstanding, and all credit to them. The way we came out and fought with the ball today is amazing, but once again the Indian batters showed us that once you get in, you have to score big,” he
said. Clarke hoped to finish on a high in the fourth and the final Test in Delhi starting on Friday.
“We are disappointed, but hopefully we can finish on a high in Delhi. Over the past two years, we have been consistent at home, but not away from home,” he said.
Clarke said there are some areas where the team has to work hard. “We continue to learn, there are some positives but there are certainly areas we can get better. I told the boys this morning that we can win the match. We always look for ways to win,” he said.