Shane Watson has sent a shockwave through Australia’s Ashes camp after suffering a hamstring injury in India to put his Gabba availability in doubt.
Less than three weeks out from the opening Test in Brisbane, Watson sustained the injury in the seventh and deciding one-day match of Australia’s tour of India on Saturday.
As he ran in to begin his sixth over, Watson pulled up in his delivery stride.
He gingerly walked back to his mark and attempted a stretch before succumbing to the injury.
Watson is being assessed by medical staff at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, but his availability for the Ashes-opening Test starting on November 21 is in doubt.
Watson has a history of hamstring injuries.
He was ruled out of the 2006-07 Ashes series after injuring his hamstring in a domestic one-day game.
He missed the bulk of the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup to a similar complaint, and was plagued by hamstring troubles in 2011.
Making matters worse, Australia had sent fast bowler Mitchell Johnson on Thursday in order to give him the best preparation possible for the Ashes.
Considering Watson’s extensive injury history, they may now be wishing they’d booked the crucial allrounder a ticket on the same flight.
Watson is as important as any member of Michael Clarke’s team.
The 32-year-old has taken over the vital No.3 batting role, smashing a career-best 176 at the Oval in August this year.
But should he miss any games, his roles as Australia’s first slip and reliable medium pace will also be sorely missed.
Ken Hambling
Guest
If Watson can't play through injury, first XI for first test: Warner, Rogers, Khawaja, Clarke, smith, Henriques, haddin, Johnson, siddle, Harris, Lyon. If Watson can play he comes in for Henriques
Felix
Guest
Good god man, really? Henriques is the poor man's Watson. And let's review a few comments from retired ex players on the ego and destabilising nature shall we? Get a grip.
Deccas
Guest
I hope he is out for the series. He is a good defensive bowler, but he isn't good enough to bat 3. I swallow does not a summer make and his innings of worth are too far and few between. I think he is a destabilising influence in the team both in terms of figuring out where to play him and his ego causing fracas. I want to never see Watson put on white clothes for this country again. All the sudden Doolan and Henriques are in with a shout for the test team.
Heff
Guest
Watto could do a hammy going to the toilet. In fact, I'm sure he has at some stage or another!
Hookin' YT
Guest
How do you do your hammy bowling? Its not a sprint. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Bearfax
Guest
Point taken about the fine innings he recently played. But its like having Shaun Marsh in there. You'll occasionally get a top ranking swashbuckling innings that every one will consider the birth of a super star. And then another 20 innings of nothing. Remember that's the first century Watson has scored in 48 test innings and only the second score over 50 in over 20 innings. And he is not a youngster like Hughes, Warner, Khawaja and Smith who are still learning the trade. He is 32 and in the peak of his career. We may be lucky and Watson is in a purple patch that lasts for a series or so. But based on past performances we'll have a long wait for him to score another big one and even to get over 50. There are others who would be better as no 3 batsmen, if he cant bowl. If he bowls I have no problem about him being in the team. Of course what I have to say has no bearing on what CA will do. They blunder along with selections as they have for the last 3-4 years. So from that point of view Brendon the 1st, your comments are justified
Richard
Guest
I don't mean it is great news for Watto. Someone of Watson's ability breaking down in the middle of a test is terrible and there is nothing you can do about it. Its almost a given that he will break down during the Ashes, its just not acceptable. We need someone like Faulkner, give him a go. Faulkner 6, Doolan 3?
davros
Guest
in that it will increase the load on harris and he is more likely to break down ? It is not good that harris himself has commented he is close to his body snapping again .what do you do rest him next shield ? or keep bowling him hard ...I noticed on the Glenelg road , qld decided against COOKING him and he was ill anyway ...yere im not sure we should be looking for a specalist no3 to replace Watson.
Nudge
Guest
The thing is davros if we are going to go with a specialist no 3 bat, it hugely improves the likely hood of Harris only playing 2or 3 tests. I like Abigail's post on a different story from today
davros
Guest
yes all that's true Brendon...but Richard raises a good point ...if he's injured maybe its good we can make plans around that ....where Watson fits into the test side has allways been a bit of a grey area...maybe we can structure the team and its players a bit differently ...ie do we bring in a Dan Christian type and bat him 7 ..does Faulkner get a run ...or are we looking for a specialist no 3 bat ?????
ChrisUK
Guest
Don't think so unless there's very recent news - I suspect a few people got the wrong end of the stick because he retired in the game against WA, but not injured, he retired out to get others a bat (that went really well!). Cook and Broad had a bit of back stiffness from the flight over though, but there doesn't seem to be much concern.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Heard a rumour bell was injured, any truth in that?
Brendon the 1st
Guest
People getting injured is hardly good news, no matter your what your thoughts on that person is. I'm not a Watto Fanboi, but I feel sorry for the guy, he'd be gutted.
ChrisUK
Guest
That's true, I'd forgotten about that.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
It's CA, my feeling is they think a half fit Watson is better than the next. He didn't bowl in te test series in India and that was coming off a calf injury.
Richard
Guest
This is great news! Watson was always going to break down at some point. Far better now than at a crucial time in the Ashes.- You can almost guarantee that Watson will break down at the most crucial moment. Give someone else a an extended run and move on.
ChrisUK
Guest
I wasn't thinking in terms of his quality - more about that if he's not fit to bowl, then he's not really fit to run either.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
CA would absolutely pick him as a specialist bat. I kind of get it though, we need a number three and he smashed that 176 last test.
ChrisUK
Guest
He wouldn't be picked as a batsman only would he? If he wasn't fit to bowl, it's surely taking a hell of a risk to pick him just as a batsman. What if he pulls a muscle running between the wickets? Is he even allowed a substitute on the field then (actually that's a genuine question - you were never allowed a runner before with a pre-existing injury, is there any sanction at all now?)?
Bearfax
Guest
If he's not fit to bowl in the tests, he shouldnt be selected as a batsman only. Watson's value is that he is an excellent containing medium pace bowler who is also a pretty good batsman. But I dont think his batting alone justifies his inclusion in the team, despite some recent heroics in tests. And though I think Faulkner is a fine medium pace bowler, his batting is not good enough for a No 6 position at this stage. If Watson his out I would be going for another batsman, not all rounder. I dont think any of our all rounders, other than Watson, are up to the task at this stage. Maxwell in a few years probably, but not now