Herald Sun, quoting sources close to Watson, said he has “cooled on retirement threats” and “will take the first steps towards atonement by considering a return to India next week to prepare for the final Test in Delhi”.

“He is likely to stay with wife Lee and their newborn son, Will, for three or four days, which would still give him time to be on deck for the final Test in Delhi,” the daily said. Watson, along with Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson, was on Monday dumped for the third Test for a breach of discipline.