Hussey believes Watson needs to play some Sheffield Shield games before the start of the South Africa series

Veteran Australian batsman Michael Hussey has announced that Cricket Australia made the right choice in ordering all-rounder Shane Watson home early from the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) in South Africa to get ready for their upcoming Test series against the Proteas.

Hussey noted that if Watson were to continue playing in the tournament, it would leave him almost no time whatsoever to change his mindset from Twenty20 cricket to Test cricket.

Watson’s sudden departure has angered the Sydney Sixers general manager Stuart Clark, and if the team happen to win the tournament and claim the prize of $2.5 million, Watson will not get any of the money due to his early return home.

“The workload he has got on his body having to bowl and bat in the top order, it’s a smart move. He needs to be managed and managed well, we saw the benefits of him having a break before the World Twenty20 and he was fresh. His body was good and he was able to perform brilliantly in that tournament. Hopefully, we can see the same benefits again leading into the start of the Australian summer,” Hussey said.

Hussey himself is currently representing the Chennai Super Kings in the CLT20, and stated that he was glad Cricket Australia hadn’t ordered him home as well.

Hussey added that playing in one Sheffield Shield game would be enough for him to make the adjustment from Twenty20 cricket to Test cricket.