Shane Watson isn’t 100% fit and could be in doubt for Australia’s opening Test match against South Africa next week.
The Aussies kick off against the Proteas in Centurion on the 12th, but may have to contend without Watson, struggling with a calf injury.
“Shane Watson’s had some calf tightness so he won’t bowl today but will bowl again in the next couple of days building up to the Test,” Team doctor Peter Brukner revealed on Friday.
But Brukner believes the calf injury is only a minor setback and the all-rounder will be fine to go on Wednesday.
Watson’s 2012-13 season was severely limited due to calf problems, but his latest setback hasn’t appeared to bother coach Darren Lehmann.
“He hasn’t bowled in the last couple of days, but he’ll bowl. He’ll be fine,” Lehmann said of the No.3 batsman.
Should the calf injury somehow worsen and keep him from the first Test, Watson will be surely be missed. He had a good run during Australia’s last tour of South Africa in 2011, with one of the highlights his part of the bowling attack that dismissed for 96 on day two of the Cape Town Test.
The Aussies will take part in a two-day intra-squad match on Friday and will feature some bowling from Watson plus a head-to-head between Test hopefuls Alex Doolan and Phil Hughes.
Lehmann will be one of the umpires in the match after Australia was forced to schedule their own hit out when the nation’s lone lead-up tour game in Potchefstroom was cancelled due to rain.
South Africa will be bolstered by the return of batsman AB De Villiers, returning from a hand injury.
De Villiers made an impressive return to the Proteas lineup in a warm-up game against the Composite XI, scoring 40 of 65 balls.
“We’ve really peaked in the past two years. They beat us here 2-1 [in 2009] … we’re [now] a different team. I’m not going to say that we can’t lose. I’m not saying we’re invincible or anything like that. But I feel we’re playing better cricket than ever now, and we’re confident as a team,” said De Villiers about his nation’s so-so home record against the Aussies.
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