After vice-captain Shane Watson was axed from Australia’s Test side it appears they may be trouble between him and his captain.
There have been reports of a growing rift between Australia Test cricket captain Michael Clarke and his deputy Shane Watson.
Clarke and head coach Mickey Arthur took the decision to suspend Watson and three other players on Monday for failing to give a presentation when asked.
31-year-old Watson reacted to this decision by announcing he would not be available for the rest of the tour of India, despite only being suspended for the third Test.
This has led to some less than positive responses from some sections of Australian cricket, not least Cricket Australia’s general manager of team performance Pat Howard, who said Watson was “sometimes” a team player.
“I know Shane reasonably well,” Howard said on ESPN.
“I think he acts in the best interests of the team sometimes.”
The all-rounder also announced he was considering his future in cricket, as he departed India to fly home to his wife – who is about to have their first child.
Clarke has also responded to the decision he and the Australian hierarchy made. He told Cricket Australia that the axing had been building up for some time and most of the time his team had spent in India they had not been up to standard.
Watson has failed to perform to a high standard since his last Test century, coincidentally coming at Mohali in 2010. Injuries have plagued the all-rounder and he has averaged just 25.20 in the last two years, despite always batting in the top four.
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