All-rounder Shane Watson is likely to be called home early from the Champions League Twenty20 tournament so he can rest and be ready for the three-Test series against South Africa starting Nov. 9.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland on Monday said Watson’s workload was being reviewed and “I think it’s reasonably well known that it’s likely he won’t see the tournament out.”
“We’re concerned about Shane. His injury record is unfortunate and what that tells us is that we need to monitor him and manage him very carefully and we are.”
The 31—year—old Watson scored 46 for the Sydney Sixers in a win over the Chennai Super Kings at Johannesburg on Sunday and was due to travel to Cape Town for another CLT20 match on Tuesday.
Watson has been a key contributor with bat and ball in recent one—day and T20 internationals for Australia, and was voted player of the tournament at the recent World T20 in Sri Lanka.
“The priority will be for him to get himself right as possible ... to give him a little bit of a break, then give him a little bit of therapy and whatever else he needs,” Mr Sutherland said. “But then also to really focus on getting him right to play Test cricket which he hasn’t played for a long time ... give him the opportunity to play a Shield game and at least play with the red ball.
“He’s a fantastic player ... he’s the sort of player who can win series and certainly win Test matches for Australia.”
