Watson was monitored closely after being hit on the helmet

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia were given a major scare during a training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday when all-rounder Shane Watson was struck on the helmet while batting in the nets.

After being struck, Watson and pace bowler James Pattinson, who bowled the bouncer, both left the nets.

Watson was monitored by team doctor Peter Brukner for the rest of the day as a precautionary measure.

However, since there are no signs of a concussion, Watson is on course to represent Australia during the Boxing Day Test against India.

“I had a chat to him. He’s a bit shaken. He’s okay. He’s just a bit shaken,” wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin said. “He just got hit in the head. He’s shaken as anyone would be. I can’t really go into any more because there’s no more details to give you.”

Meanwhile, opening batsman David Warner did not train on Tuesday since he is nursing a thumb injury. Warner suffered the injury when he was struck on the thumb while batting during Australia’s second innings at the Gabba in Brisbane.

However, the 28-year-old made it clear that he will “definitely be playing” the Boxing Day Test.

“I will definitely be playing – I will be doing everything I can,” Warner said. “Obviously it’s a bit painful, it’s the one I broke before, but I’m not missing a Boxing Day test, that’s for sure.”

Warner’s opening partner, Chris Rogers, revealed that he initially thought the 28-year-old had broken his thumb.

“I thought initially, when it first happened, you see those kinds of instances and you think ‘that’s definitely a broken thumb’,” Rogers said. “But he seems to be a pretty tough character so I think he’s going to play and I haven’t really thought otherwise of late so I expect him to be out there.”