Australia’s preparation for the seven-match ODI series against India suffered a jolt with paceman Shane Watson being ruled out of the tour with a hamstring injury.
The injury is not that grave but Cricket Australia did not want to risk aggravating it ahead of a very demanding home season and hence it was decided to allow Watson sit back home and recuperate.
CA physiotherapist Alex Kountouris admitted the decision was taken to preserve the bowler for the forthcoming season.
He said,
Although this is a low-grade muscular strain the decision has been made for Shane to prepare himself for the Australian season.
Watson hurt his hamstring during the world Twenty20 against Sri Lanka. Incidentally, this is not the first time that a hamstring problem has kept the youngster out of action. he had earlier missed out the entire Ashes series against England with a tweaked hamstring.
Earlier, a similar injury created a cloud of doubt over captain Ricky Ponting’s chances of playing against India but CA later said that Ponting would travel to India even though he might the first few matches.
