Watson unlikely for third Test by CricketArchive staff reporter

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

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DateLine: 8th December 2006

 

Injury prone all-rounder Shane Watson's slim hopes of playing for Australia in the third Ashes Test all but disappeared when he was ruled out of Queensland's one-day clash with Victoria on Friday. The game against Victoria was Watson's last chance to prove his fitness and gain some match practice before the third Test, starting December 14 at the WACA Ground. However, Watson was ruled out at Queensland training on Thursday and as a result seems certain to miss the Perth Test. A comeback in the fourth Test in Melbourne, on December 26, seems the best case scenario for the 25-year-old, who is adamant he will be fully fit by Christmas. Watson's misfortune is good news for struggling middle order batsman Damien Martyn, who was tipped to make way for the Queenslander, but is now likely to retain his spot, with the Australians expected to field an unchanged side in Perth. It could be a hometown farewell to Test cricket for the 35-year-old Martyn - with just 45 runs at average 15 in the first two Ashes Tests - if he fails again and Watson proves his fitness for the Boxing Day clash at the MCG. The unlucky Watson, who has played three Tests, has been struggling to shrug off a hamstring strain since breaking down just days before the first Test in Brisbane. At the time, Watson tried desperately to prove his fitness for the Gabba Test, but the effort came at a cost and the injury is taking longer to heal than expected. "I've been trying, with all the medical staff, trying to get up for the first Test and then the second Test, it has probably prolonged (the injury) a little bit," he told agencies Thursday. "It hasn't really had a full-on chance to absolutely heal." Watson said he now realized it was in his best interests to take a cautious approach to a return. "We've got to think about not just trying to get right for the third Test, but making sure it won't be any longer than that," he said. "There is so much cricket to come, with the one-day series (against England and New Zealand) and then the World Cup. I will be absolutely fresh compared to maybe the guys who have toiled away so hard over the last couple of Tests." Australia is expected to name an unchanged squad for the third Test on Friday.