Published: Sep 06, 2015, 03:16 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2015, 02:02 PM (IST)
Shane Watson announced his Test retirement with immediate effect on Sunday. Watson, who is currently with the One-Day International (ODI) squad in England, had sustained a calf injury during the second ODI at Lord’s on Saturday. Australia eventually won the game by a margin of 64 runs. The middle-order batsman last played in whites in the first Ashes 2015 Test at Cardiff. However, he was dropped from the side after a poor show where he managed scores of just 30 and 19 in the first game. The Queensland cricketer played 59 Tests for Australia, scoring 3,731 runs and taking 75 wickets. READ: Shane Watson Test retirement: Twitter reactions
According to a report from Cricket Australia, Watson said, “I’ve been through a lot of different waves of emotion about what is right for myself, my family and most importantly the team as well. Over the last couple of days there was a lot of clarity [for me] of what the right decision was. I just know that I’ve given everything I possibly can to get the best out of myself.” READ: Shane Watson tweets video following Test retirement
“I just know it’s the right time to move on. I don’t have that real fight in me, especially for Test cricket, knowing the lengths physically that I’d have to go through, mentally and technically as well, to be at my best in Test cricket, so I just know it’s the right time,” he added. QUIZ: How well do you know Shane Watson?
After the axing at the end of Cardiff Test, Watson had admitted of not knowing what the future has in store for him. “After the first Test I was very disappointed to miss out but in the end I only have myself to blame. “I have been very lucky and fortunate through my career to have plenty of opportunities and I just didn’t score enough runs, it’s as simple as that.I am just disappointed in myself that I wasn’t able to perform well enough to be a part of such an exciting Ashes series. I’ll just have to see what happens in the future.” READ: Shane Watson to undergo scans following injury in 2nd ODI vs England at Lord’s
He was replaced by Mitchell Marsh, who has been successful in doing justice to his role of an all-rounder, in the second Ashes Test. In the third day of the Lords’ game, Marsh bagged crucial wickets of Ben Stokes (87) and Alastair Cook (96). The visitors wrapped up England for 312, thereby going into their second innings with a lead of 254 runs. And that convincing show by Marsh led selectors over-looking Watson for the remainder of the Ashes. READ: Shane Watson Test retirement: End of a career replete with unfulfilled promise
After being omitted from the team, the 34-year old had received support from Coach Darren Lehman. In an interview, Lehman had insisted that the man would make a comeback as there is still plenty of cricket left in him. Sadly, Watson thought it is time to put curtains down to his career in the longer format of the game. READ: Shane Watson Test retirement: Twitter reactions
