Wat A Mess

Australia vice-captain Shane Watson has announced he is considering his international future by telling the Sydney Morning Herald that he is ‘weighing up his options’ as the fallout from events in India continue.

The 31 year old was dropped, alongside Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson for the third test match of a four match series, after failing to complete a homework-like task set by head coach Mickey Arthur.

None of the quartet responded to the demands of the South African and have duly been unceremoniously omitted from the match in Delhi – a game Australia need to win if they are to avoid losing the series.

The focus is, of course, on Watson who, to the frustration of many, has struggled desperately for form of late while wearing the baggy green.

Arthur, who agreed with Captain Michael Clarke to expel the four, has come under severe criticism for his handling of the situation with many believing that the punishment is severe – the inference being that the coaching staff are cutting their nose off to spite the face of Australian Cricket.

Shane Warne labelled it ‘ridiculous’, Mark Waugh ‘stupid’ and Damien Martyn ‘extreme’.

Former England paceman Matthew Hoggard explained that he was baffled by the decision and he told the BBC, “They have not been out until four in the morning. They have not been jumping off ferries or putting hands through doors. I know Shane Watson and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Getting him to write things out and put them in front of the coach is not going to be his strong point.”

While the Australians and the English are in meltdown and ecstasy respectively over this situation ahead of the Ashes test series, which start in four months, the problem is right here and now for the tourists.

Whether Arthur treated the players like schoolboys or not, his position was clearly undermined by the refusal of his vice-captain to comply with team requests. This is not to say that Watson has instigated a revolt but there is a clear division of leadership and perhaps Australia are using a sledgehammer to crack the proverbial nut.

It remains to be seen whether Arthur has overreacted, or indeed the same can be said of former players and pundits, but for now a whitewashing at the hands of India looks a) probable and b) damaging.