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Watson left out from Test squad for Adelaide

By Staff

Melbourne, Nov 23 (UNI) Shane Watson was today left out of the 12-man Australian squad announced for the second Test against New Zealand, which begins on Friday in Adelaide.

The all-rounder, who took two wickets but was unable to carry himself with the bat, scoring just one and five when the home team were in trouble in both the innings, will now return to play for Queensland against South Australia in the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba which also starts on Friday.

However, Victorian fast bowler Peter Siddle will rejoin the 12-man squad after being made to sit in the first Test at Brisbane, where Australia beat the Kiwis by a mighty 149 runs.

National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch though hailed the 27-year-old all-rounder's fine performance both with the bowl and the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, which they lost 0-2, but added that the omission was necessary due to the need of a specialist spinner in Adelaide instead of a makeshift pacer.

''It is obviously disappointing for Shane Watson to be omitted from the Test 12 after playing well for us during the four Test period in India and this week at the Gabba.

''We have been very pleased with Shane's development, but for the Adelaide Test our intention is to play a specialist spinner rather than the makeup used successfully in the first Test,'' Hilditch stressed.

''Having made that decision we thought it was important that Shane took the opportunity to play for Queensland to ensure he had played as much cricket as possible leading in to the remainder of what is very important Australian summer.'' Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Jason Krejza, Peter Siddle.

UNI XC PY AK PM1406

Story first published: Thursday, August 24, 2017, 15:50 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 24, 2017