All-rounder might captain as Clarke’s participation in Delhi Test uncertain while injured Starc leaves for home
It might have come a little late but vice-captain Shane Watson has returned to the Australian camp ahead of the fourth and final Test against India, scheduled to start here from Friday. And coach Mickey Arthur is happy.
“We are really happy to get Shane back; it is really important he’s come back,” Arthur said.“Shane’s been exceptional over the last week, we’ve had numerous conversations with him,” he added.
Arthur flew with the squad from Chandigarh and joined Watson, who was already here.Though Watson admitted that he was not right, he had said that the suspension was too harsh. But the coach said Watson has reconciled with the action now. “I am very comfortable that Shane has (accepted punishment). We have had a lot of conversations over the last week and they have all been very good.
“He didn’t agree with the penalty but he agreed that they had done wrong. We have pretty much got that sorted and we have had numerous conversations and I am really comfortable with where it sits with Watto. We’re really happy to have him back.”
There is a possibility of Watson leading the side in the Delhi Test if regular skipper Michael Clarke misses out owing to his back Problems.
“He is in a bit of pain, but with Michael Clarke, you can never say never,” said Arthur.
“He will give himself every opportunity to get himself ready for the Test, no doubt about that. That will pan out closer to the time and will give him every opportunity to get up for it because he is such a vital cog in our team,” he told the Australian media.
Arthur said that the team management would certainly not put Clarke at risk. “We certainly wouldn’t put Pup (Clarke) at risk for what we’ve got ahead of us. We’ll cross that bridge when we have to but that will ultimately be his decision, obviously with some help from our medical team,” the coach said.
The other blow that the Australians have to deal with is the that pacer Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the final Test due to an ankle injury, which would require surgery. “Cricket Australia today advises that Mitchell Starc will return to Australia later today to have surgery to remove the bone spurs on his right ankle,” CA said in a statement.
“Mitch has been experiencing ankle pain related to bone spurs during the India Test series and whilst manageable, this represents an appropriate time for Mitch to have the surgery with a view to having him fully fit for the Ashes in late June,” Australian Team Doctor Peter Brukner said.
‘Mike Hussey’s return hypothetical’
Arthur also played down the talk of Mike Hussey coming out of retirement in the wake of the team’s disastrous show. Arthur termed the question whether Hussey could come back into the team for the Ashes series later this year as ‘hypothetical’. “We’d certainly listen to Mike Hussey if Mike Hussey came knocking at our door. But that’s hypothetical at the moment. He’s retired. We’ve moved on now, you knowIJ” Arthur said.
“Yeah, we miss him (Hussey). We also miss the aura of Ricky Ponting, but I’m hoping that these younger players will take over that mantle in time to come. I’m confident we’ve got the best players here... (but) they’re nowhere near ready yet,” he was quoted as saying by the Australian media.
No twitter for Mickey
Meanwhile, Arthur deleted his Twitter account on Tuesday. Now, the coach has conceded that he had put his ‘neck on the line’ with the decision of suspending players.
“I’ve never been one just to sit back and let things drift,” Arthur was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.
“If I’m doing that, I’m not doing my job. I’m empowered to coach this team, to run this team and get this team back to where it needs to be,” he asserted.