Injured Watson ruled out of one-day clash by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Player:	SR Watson
Event:	England in Australia 2006/07

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DateLine: 6th December 2006

 

Shane Watson's injury-interrupted Test cricket career hit another hurdle Tuesday when the all-rounder failed to train with Queensland ahead of Wednesday’s one-day match against New South Wales. The blond paceman, who strained a hamstring in a Ford Ranger Cup one-day game against Western Australia 18 days ago, has been ruled out of the clash against the Blues at the SCG. Queensland hosts Victoria at the Gabba on Friday but coach Terry Oliver said Tuesday Watson was also an unlikely starter in that match, virtually ending his chances of playing in the third Ashes Test in Perth starting on December 14. Set to be given his big chance to re-establish himself in the Test team, the latest ill-timed breakdown of Watson's body led the big Queenslander to break down in tears and he was consoled in the WACA rooms by Test vice-captain Adam Gilchrist. Watson's three-Test career had previously come to a halt when he injured his shoulder in the Gabba Test against the West Indies in November 2005. Averaging 20.25 with the bat and having taken just two wickets at 61.50, the 25-year-old's numbers hardly scream "next Andrew Flintoff". Yet that's exactly what Australia's selectors have been trying to mould the muscular Ipswich lad into, and some promising performances in the Champions Trophy in India in October-November only add to his crushing disappointment at missing the start of the Ashes series. "Watto has actually been down to see the Australian team doctor Trefor James in Melbourne yesterday," Oliver said at the SCG Tuesday. "He is in Sydney but he won't be with us until tomorrow. He might come here and have a bowl in the nets tomorrow, we'll see. It's probably unlikely he will play Friday as well. I haven't seen him. I think he is on the mend but they are just being cautious. I spoke to him today. He sets himself high standards and he's very disappointed, as anyone would be I suppose.” Bulls skipper Jimmy Maher said: "It's up to the powers-that-be to make the decision on his fitness. I know he is busting his boiler trying to get back on the park and doing everything in his power to do so," Maher added. ``Hopefully we can get him back on the park for Queensland and Australia as quickly as possible.''

 

Oliver admitted Watson would be a risk for the third Test. "It has really just been a bit over two weeks," Oliver added. "I'm not a medical person but hamstrings, you can't hide from them. I think the worry is if you get him back too soon and he does it again, it's another three weeks on top of that."