Watson should return: Clarke

Skipper Clarke backs Cricket Australia's decision to ask star all-rounder to come back home from CLT20 amid fears of burnout before SA series

Watson should return: Clarke

Australia captain Michael Clarke has defended the controversial decision to order Shane Watson home from the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa.

Concerned the star all-rounder was at risk of burning out for the second year running due to a heavy playing schedule, Cricket Australia general manager/team performance Pat Howard told Watson he must return home after playing just three matches for the Sydney Sixers.

Concerned: Sydney Sixers’ Shane Watson during their CLT20 tie against Chennai Super Kings. Pics/Getty images

It means Watson, who guided the Sixers to victory over the Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, will miss the final group game and the finals, should the Sydney side qualify.

Sixers general manager Stuart Clark is unhappy with the decision, but Clarke fully endorsed Howard’s move ahead of home Test series against World No 1 side South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The skipper said at CA’s season launch: “I’m keen for Shane Watson to get his body right so he can perform throughout these Test series.
“Cricket Australia are learning from areas we probably didn’t do as well as we wanted to last year.

Not about individuals
“Watto didn’t play one Test match last summer so we’re trying to rectify what we did and give ourselves the best chance of success. It’s not about the individual player, it’s about doing what’s best for the team.

“For me, playing for Australia would be the main priority. I know Watto pretty well and I’m sure it’s the same with him.” As one of the few players representing Australia in all three forms of the game, the in-form Watson has been his country’s busiest cricketer over recent months.

But a similar workload last year sidelined him for the entire summer of Tests and CA is desperate to avoid a repeat. CA boss James Sutherland told Sportal Watson was simply too important to risk. “Shane is a really important player for us and he’s had a pretty heavy schedule recently,” he said. “I think the experience of last summer shows us we need to keep a really close eye on him.”

Watson is the only Australian Test player facing a recall from South Africa, with Mike Hussey, Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc free to see out the tournament.u00a0

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