Michael Clarke backs Shane Watson as Aus team man
BY Agencies20 Dec 2013 11:56 PM GMT
Agencies20 Dec 2013 11:56 PM GMT
Clarke’s ringing endorsement of his former vice-captain follows a row in India in March, when Cricket Australia team performance manager Pat Howard gave the impression that Watson was not a team player.
Watson clashed with then-Test coach Mickey Arthur when he was one of four players who failed to submit written feedback requested by team management in India, as Australia were on the wrong end of a clean sweep in a four-Test series.
At the time Howard let slip in a press conference that he believed Watson ‘acts in the best interests of the team -- sometimes’ -- and there was a perception that the much-maligned all-rounder was a selfish cricketer. Former teammates of Watson leapt to his defence and before the Ashes tour to England in June, Watson publicly stated that he and Howard had sorted out any misunderstandings. ‘What Watto did the other day was put the team first,’ Clarke told reporters.
‘He knew we were trying to score as many runs as we could before our declaration and he put the team first, which is a great example to the young players that that’s what we’re trying to do in our team. It’s good to see.’
Aussie pace trio work way back under Dennis Lillee
LONDON: Australian pace trio James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are in training under Test great Dennis Lillee as they work their way back to full fitness from injury, a report said on Thursday. Australia have already wrestled back the Ashes without their services, but plans are in place to gradually return the young quicks to top-level cricket with an eye on the tour to South Africa in February-March. Pattinson, Starc and Cummins, who all had back injuries, went through their paces in the nets in Perth on Wednesday as Australia’s fast-bowling coach Craig McDermott and pace great Lillee watched and advised, The Australian said. Former Test bowling coach Troy Cooley, now at the national cricket academy in Brisbane, said the net sessions were part of a specialist skills programme. “We got the four bowlers up to Brisbane last week and then thought we’d take the opportunity to get them to Perth during the Test match,” Cooley said.
Watson clashed with then-Test coach Mickey Arthur when he was one of four players who failed to submit written feedback requested by team management in India, as Australia were on the wrong end of a clean sweep in a four-Test series.
At the time Howard let slip in a press conference that he believed Watson ‘acts in the best interests of the team -- sometimes’ -- and there was a perception that the much-maligned all-rounder was a selfish cricketer. Former teammates of Watson leapt to his defence and before the Ashes tour to England in June, Watson publicly stated that he and Howard had sorted out any misunderstandings. ‘What Watto did the other day was put the team first,’ Clarke told reporters.
‘He knew we were trying to score as many runs as we could before our declaration and he put the team first, which is a great example to the young players that that’s what we’re trying to do in our team. It’s good to see.’
Aussie pace trio work way back under Dennis Lillee
LONDON: Australian pace trio James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are in training under Test great Dennis Lillee as they work their way back to full fitness from injury, a report said on Thursday. Australia have already wrestled back the Ashes without their services, but plans are in place to gradually return the young quicks to top-level cricket with an eye on the tour to South Africa in February-March. Pattinson, Starc and Cummins, who all had back injuries, went through their paces in the nets in Perth on Wednesday as Australia’s fast-bowling coach Craig McDermott and pace great Lillee watched and advised, The Australian said. Former Test bowling coach Troy Cooley, now at the national cricket academy in Brisbane, said the net sessions were part of a specialist skills programme. “We got the four bowlers up to Brisbane last week and then thought we’d take the opportunity to get them to Perth during the Test match,” Cooley said.
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