Players / / Shane Watson

Resilient Australia close to becoming a powerhouse

Mar 9, 2014: They have the aggressive opening bowler and batsman and the imaginative captain to become unbeatable. The No. 3 slot is the only chink in their armour

South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town

Clarke needs Watson's best

Feb 28, 2014: To beat South Africa in what he has called the biggest match of Australia's summer and what is arguably the most significant of his captaincy so far, Michael Clarke is looking for a command all-round performance from Shane Watson on his return to the side

Australia in South Africa 2013-14

Watson accepts all-round role

Feb 26, 2014: Shane Watson has conceded he does not merit a place in Australia's Test side on his batting alone and is committed to pursuing a more targeted pre-season this winter in a bid to be fitter for the all-round role the captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren

Australia in South Africa 2013-14

Watson to replace Doolan or Marsh

Feb 24, 2014: One of Alex Doolan or Shaun Marsh will make way for Shane Watson provided the Australia allrounder proves his fitness

South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Port Elizabeth

Watson must bowl - Clarke

Feb 19, 2014: Australia captain Michael Clarke has cast further doubt over Shane Watson's place in the team, confirming that the allrounder will not be considered until he is fit again to bowl

Australia in South Africa 2013-14

Watson unlikely for Port Elizabeth

Feb 16, 2014: Shane Watson will not return to Australia's Test XI in South Africa until he can bowl, effectively ruling him out of the second Test in Port Elizabeth

Australia in South Africa, 2013-14

Fit-again Marsh called up for Watson

Feb 8, 2014: Shaun Marsh, who had initially been ruled out by a calf injury, is fit again and back in the squad, in place of Shane Watson, who has withdrawn with a calf injury of his own

Australia in South Africa 2013-14

Watson out of first Test

Feb 8, 2014: Shane Watson is out of the first Test between South Africa and Australia because of a persistent calf injury

Australia in South Africa 2013-14

Watson carrying calf niggle

Feb 7, 2014: Shane Watson will again test the recuperative powers of Australia's medical and fitness staff after it was revealed that he had been carried a calf niggle through the first week of the tour of South Africa

Australia v England, 5th ODI, Adelaide

England aim to spoil Australia Day

Jan 25, 2014: ESPNcricinfo previews the final one-day international between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval

Australia news

Watson granted longer rest

Jan 16, 2014: Shane Watson will miss the majority of the ODI series against England after being granted a longer period of rest than first planned by Australia's selectors

IPL 2014 news

Royals retain Samson, Binny, Rahane, Watson, Faulkner

Jan 10, 2014: Rajasthan Royals have retained five players in Sanju Samson, Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, Shane Watson and James Faulkner for IPL 2014

The Ashes 2013-14

Lehmann made playing for Australia fun again - Watson

Jan 6, 2014: Shane Watson, a vocal critic of Mickey Arthur's 'high-performance' dressing-room culture, feels vindicated by Australia's success under Darren Lehmann's relaxed stewardship

Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney, 1st day

Trying to turn six into No. 1

Jan 3, 2014: Australia's top order has been bailed out time and again by Brad Haddin - but they will need to do better if they are going to top the rankings

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day

Doubts over Harris, Watson for Sydney

Dec 29, 2013: Australia's coach Darren Lehmann has conceded Ryan Harris is a doubtful starter for the Sydney Test, while Shane Watson's position could come under scrutiny if he is unable to bowl

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day

Rogers and Watson bury hapless England

Dec 29, 2013: This time last year, the thought of Australia's cricketers reaching Sydney with a 4-0 Ashes margin in their pockets seemed about as likely as that of the long discarded Chris Rogers making a century in the Boxing Day Test

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 1st day

Injury removes Watson from field

Dec 25, 2013: Shane Watson's chances of a rare injury-free summer suffered a blow when he left the field with soreness in his right groin on Boxing Day

The Ashes 2013-14

Watson batting for the team - Clarke

Dec 19, 2013: Michael Clarke epitomised the new unity that characterised the team's rapid advance to a 3-0 margin over England by expressing his satisfaction about Shane Watson's team-oriented century in the third innings at the WACA ground.

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

Watson revels in freedom to attack

Dec 16, 2013: Shane Watson described his freewheeling hundred against England in Perth as the most fun he had ever had in a Test match

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 1st day

Mature innings that means something from Smith

Dec 13, 2013: Steve Smith's innings at the WACA was patient and significant, and showed how far he has come.