Australian cricket team: Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and batsman Usman Khawaja get the boot for failing to do their homework

 
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Tom Collomosse11 March 2013

Australia were in meltdown today with vice-captain Shane Watson flying home from their tour of India after he and three other players were ruled out of this week’s Third Test for failing to complete a task set for the squad.

All-rounder Watson, bowlers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson and batsman Usman Khawaja were effectively banned from playing in the match in Mohali, which starts on Thursday, because they failed to answer coach Mickey Arthur’s request for suggestions about how the team could improve.

According to reports in Australia, Watson had planned to leave India to be with his pregnant wife Lee, who is due to give birth at the end of the month. It is unclear whether he could still be considered for the final Test in Delhi later this month.

Discussing the players’ failure to meet Saturday’s deadline, Arthur claimed this step was similar to the one England took in dropping Kevin Pietersen against South Africa last summer following the text message controversy.

At the time, Pietersen was exiled for the final Test for alleged remarks to South Africa players about then-captain Andrew Strauss. Here, the Aussie quartet have been punished because of a perceived failure to take the demands of the management sufficiently seriously.

Australia are 2-0 down in the four-match series after two heavy defeats.

“This is a line in the sand,” said Arthur. “We pride ourselves on attitude. We have given the players a huge amount of latitude to get culture and attitude right.

“We believe that those behaviours are not consistent with what we want to do with this team, how we want to take this team to be the best in the world. For me, it’s almost the Andy Flower decision. Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss and what they did with Kevin Pietersen. It’s buy-in time.

“You buy in to what we do because if you don’t we’re not going to achieve what we want as a team and in 24 months or however long we have, there is going to be a different set of people saying exactly the same thing.”

Arthur said the decision, taken along with captain Michael Clarke and team manager Gavin Dovey, was the “toughest” he had ever had to make. The move leaves Australia with only 13 players available for the Test and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is struggling with a knee problem. In a broader context, it has laid bare the difficulties present within the side, only four months away from the start of this year’s Ashes series in England.

For a long time, Watson was the nearly-man of Australian cricket but in recent years he had become a key member of the team, with both bat and ball. Now 31, it remains to be seen how quickly these wounds can be patched up in time for him to return to the side.

The axing has been met with criticism from former players in Australia. Tom Moody and Darren Lehmann, ex-Test cricketers who are now respected coaches, questioned the decision on Twitter.

On his account, Moody wrote: “From my experience report writing is not a player’s strength, no surprise to hear some failing, need to focus more on field short comings?” Lehmann added: “Adults we are, not schoolboys! Please let’s act properly and make good decisions in India! Need these boys playing.”

It is clear, however, that Arthur will not be swayed. The South African added: “It’s a tough, tough decision but the ramifications for that are within our team structure and the message that it sends to all involved in Australian cricket is that we are pretty serious about where we want to take this team.”

New Zealand bowler Doug Bracewell has not recovered from a cut foot in time for Wednesday’s Second Test against England in Wellington. Coach Mike Hesson named an unchanged 13-man squad for the match.

TWITTER REACTION

Michael Vaughan

What I am confused by is that the coach of Australia asked the players for only 3 things to improve the team?? @Michael Vaughan

Darren Lehmann

Adults we are , not schoolboys! Please let’s act properly and make good decisions in India! Need these boys playing. @darren_lehmann

Mark Butcher

The “Dog ate my homework 4”, as they shall henceforth be known, are banished to the naughty step until Supernanny arrives. @markbutcher72

Jonathan Agnew

Not really up on modern text speak, but gather that ROFL might be appropriate... @Aggerscricket

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