Australia all-rounder Shane Watson retires from Test cricket
Monday 7 September 2015 09:28, UK
Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has announced his retirement from Test cricket following another injury.
The 34-year-old called time on his Test career on Sunday after suffering a series-ending calf injury in Saturday's 64-run One Day International win over England at Lord's.
Watson said his retirement from Tests would be effective immediately after the injury ended his involvement in the five-match one-day series.
But he added that he hopes still to continue playing for his country in the shorter formats of the game.
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Watson, who has suffered frequent injuries throughout his 10-year Test career, broke the news to his team-mates at their London base on Sunday morning.
Watson played 59 Tests for Australia, scoring 3,731 runs and taking 75 wickets.
"I just know it's the right time to move on," he said.
"I don't have that real fight in me, especially for Test cricket, knowing the lengths physically that I'd have to go through, mentally and technically as well, to be at my best in Test cricket, so I just know it's the right time."
Luckless Watson was dropped from Australia's Ashes side this summer after twin lbw dismissals in the first Test defeat in Cardiff.
He returned for the ODI series and scored 39 off 38 balls on Saturday, including two sixes off consecutive deliveries from Moeen Ali.
Watson began and ended his Test career in the Australia middle order but it was as an opener that he enjoyed most success in the five-day game.
First pressed into the role during the 2009 Ashes in England, Watson made a success of the promotion and stayed at the top of the Australian order for more than two years before spending the rest of his Test career in varying roles.
Between his regular opening stint and retirement, he batted in every slot in the top six. His Test career ends with a runs average of 35.19, including four centuries, two of which came in Ashes contests. With the ball, fast-medium bowler Watson took 75 wickets at 33.68.
A limited-overs specialist, Watson has suffered with a series of injuries in recent years, but hopes to play on for his country in the shorter formats.
He is convinced that leaving Test cricket behind is the right step forward for his career.
"It's been a decision that hasn't come lightly, over the last month especially," Watson said.
"I know it's the right time to move on and still hopefully play the shorter formats of the game, one-dayers and T20s.
"I've been through a lot of different waves of emotion about what is right for myself, my family and most importantly the team as well.
"Over the last couple of days there was a lot of clarity (for me) of what the right decision was. I just know that I've given everything I possibly can to get the best out of myself."
Regularly dropping in and out of the team with hamstring, calf and back injuries, Watson appeared in roughly half the Tests Australia took part in from his 2005 debut.
