ALL-ROUNDER Shane Watson has been cleared to stay with Australia after being diagnosed with a minor thigh injury. Scans confirmed a low-grade strain to the 28-year-old’s left quadricep muscle which has forced him out of the tourists’ current game against Sussex at Hove.
With just two weeks to go before the opening Ashes Test in Cardiff, Watson is facing a fight to be fit for the start of the series. But Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: ‘We expect this injury should resolve itself fairly quickly.
Shane’s return to play will be guided by progress made in the next few days.’ Watson missed training on Monday and Tuesday after complaining of general stiffness, prompting Australian team officials to contemplate calling up a replacement. While Watson will now stay on, his hopes of making the first Test are shrinking – with Marcus North taking his place against Sussex.
Captain Ricky Ponting said: ‘For him it’s obviously a setback. I don’t know if it harmshis chances but there’s an opportunity that’s slipped out of his grasp [not playing at Hove]. ‘Hopefully within a couple of days he’s right to start working on his bowling again.’
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