Image courtesy of: The Age
Watson admitted the ‘homework-gate’ controversy could have been avoided
Australia batsman Shane Watson has admitted that the lowest point of his international career came during the national team’s recent four-Test tour of India, where they were shown no mercy by being whitewashed 4-0.
Watson was one of four players axed for the third Test of the series at Mohali after failing to complete a homework assignment set by coach Mickey Arthur.
“Whatever happened throughout India, certainly for me personally, was the lowest point in my cricket career, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “The decisions that were made were made for a reason and we certainly have to move forward as a team because we’ve got two series back-to-back of the biggest cricket we’ll ever play.”
Watson now has his sights set on the first leg of the back-to-back Ashes series in England and will definitely be seeking revenge after Australia were beaten in their own backyard 3-1 in the 2010-11 Ashes.
“We’ve got a lot of big cricket coming up so we’ve got to put all the things that happened to us in India behind us.” he said. “We’ve got to find ways to get the best out of ourselves as individuals and as a team. If we don’t, then it could be a long 10 months but if we’re able to bring it together then we could have a lot of fun.”
The Australian batsman also admitted that the ‘homework-gate’ controversy could have been avoided.
“If I had handed in my homework then I would have avoided it, that’s probably as simple as it was,” he said. “I look back and I certainly would have done that and I wouldn’t have been in the situation that I was.
“There were certainly periods of time that things had been building up unbeknown to me, things that were really affecting certain people in the group but we’ve had to move because we’ve got so much big cricket coming up and it’s a dream to be part of back-to-back Ashes series.
“Whatever’s happened is certainly in the past. For me to be a part of hopefully this next little while of cricket continues to fuel my dream and also continue to realise the privilege I do have to play cricket for my country.”
Watson, who recently stepped down as Australia’s vice-captain, stated that he had no interest whatsoever in taking up another leadership position any time soon.
“At this point in time, absolutely not,” he said. “I stepped down as vice-captain for a number of different reasons but at this point in time, it was certainly the best thing for the team. I’m just here to get the best out of myself and help as much as I always do anyway.”