Published: Sep 06, 2015, 03:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2015, 02:17 PM (IST)
In a bid to extend his One-Day International (ODI) career, Shane Watson announced his Test retirement on Sunday. The last of the 34-year-old’s 10-year Test career came in the Ashes 2015 opener at Cardiff, which England won by 169 runs. Watson made 30 and 19 with the bat, and failed to take a wicket, causing him to lose his place for the rest of the series. Watson’s Test retirement was announced on Cricket Australia‘s official website.
“It’s been a decision that hasn’t come lightly, over the last month especially,” he said. “I know it’s the right time to move on and still hopefully play the shorter formats of the game, one-dayers and T20s. “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.” Watson, who captained his country in one test and nine one day internationals, steps down after being ruled out of the rest of the one-day international series by a calf injury sustained in the tourists’ victory at Lord’s on Saturday.
An Ashes winner in 2013/14 and this year’s World Cup — who had his run ins with the cricket authorities being one of four players to be dropped from the squad during the 2013 tour of India for not doing their homework — he informed his teammates of his decision on Sunday morning. It follows Australia Test captain Michael Clarke‘s move to retire from all forms of cricket in the wake of the Ashes series defeat in England. Watson played 59 Tests for Australia, scoring 3,731 runs and taking 75 wickets. Read: Shane Watson announces Test retirement with immediate effect
Congrats @ShaneRWatson33 on retirement. You deserve all the accolades that come your way. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of you career.
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) September 6, 2015
Congrats to @ShaneRWatson33 on a great test career! Has been an honour to be apart of your journey! Great player and even better person!
— Ryan Harris (@r_harris413) September 6, 2015
Congrats @ShaneRWatson33 on a great Test career. Super bloke and a massive help to new guys in the squad. Still a lot of ODIs and T20s left!
— Pat Cummins (@93Cummins) September 6, 2015
Congrats to @ShaneRWatson33 on an outstanding test career for Australia! It has been a pleasure and privilege to be your team mate!
— Nathan Lyon (@NathLyon421) September 6, 2015
59 Test matches for Australia is an incredible achievement. @ShaneRWatson33 you should be really proud of everything you’ve accomplished.
— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) September 6, 2015
Watson will continue to play the other formats though. Watson will have scans to find out the extent of his calf injury that he had sustained during the second One Day International (ODI) against England at Lord’s on Saturday. The match saw a series of incidents including Ben Stokes’ controversial dismissal and Australian opener David Warner’s injury in the opening stages of the match and therefore Watson’s injury went unnoticed. With Warner’s fracture confirmed after being hit by a bouncer from England fast bowler Steven Finn in the second ball of the game, Australia will hope the all-rounder hasn’t got injured seriously
