'Shattered' Watson considering retirement from Test cricket following sacking from Mohali Test
Sydney, Mar 12 : Australian vice-captain Shane Watson is considering retirement from Test cricket following his dumping from the Mohali Test for a minor disciplinary breach.
Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were all dumped for Thursday's third Test for failing to complete an assignment by team management on how to make improvements in the team, News.com.au reports.
Hinting at a possible retirement from Test cricket, Watson said that he will be spending the next few weeks with his family and pregnant wife, and will weigh his options on his future in the game, although he said that he still has the passion for cricket and feels that he is in the prime of his career.
Watson said that the management had been too harsh in dumping him and the others for what he claimed was a minor disciplinary breach, adding that he has to comply with the decision.
However, captain Michael Clarke strongly defended the decision, saying that the team had not adhered to the standards of the past, although adding that Watson will bounce back from the setback and resume the vice-captaincy.
According to Clarke, it is a great honour for the players who are selected to represent Australia and for that they needed to adhere to the standards of the Australian cricket team, specially if the squad is 2-0 down in the series.
Clarke, coach Mickey Arthur and manager Gavin Dovey met yesterday morning and decided that the four should not be available for selection for Thursday's Test in Mohali, the report added.