Shane Watson to stay on with The Cascade Tasmanian Tigers

Australian One-Day cricket all-rounder. Shane Watson has agreed to stay in Tasmania and play for the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers.

The decision was announced today by the Chairman of the Tasmanian Cricket Association (TCA) Mr. Denis Rogers AO at a media conference at Bellerive Oval and follows several weeks' of speculation regarding the young all-rounder's future with the State after he had received offers from two other States.

Mr. Rogers said: "We are delighted that Shane has decided to stay in Tasmania. He has done the right thing by examining his future and in fact we encouraged him to do so."

The Chairman added: "We have discussed the situation at length and have worked through the issues he has had to deal with. Shane wants to be a part of an exciting future for Tasmanian cricket and the team."

"On behalf of the TCA board, administration, coaching staff, players and indeed the Tasmanian public, we would like to thank Shane for his decision to stay and the mature way in which he has conducted himself throughout this period of speculation."

Shane cited cricket opportunities as the main reason for his decision to stay in Tasmania. He believes that these opportunities are available to him with the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers and will enable him to achieve his cricketing goals.

His immediate goal is to regain his place in the Australian One-Day team following his withdrawal due to injury, and ultimately to play Test cricket for his country. To achieve this, Shane has a desire to become and be regarded as a genuine all-rounder. He believes he will have the best opportunity to achieve this by staying in Tasmania.

Watson said: "I am flattered to have been approached by Victoria and Queensland, but I am confident after weighing everything up that there is a bright future for both myself and the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers."

He added that while the decision-making situation had been stressful at times, it had been a worthwhile experience, which had provided him with the opportunity to talk to a lot of people about his game and his future.

Watson said: "I am pleased to have been able to weigh up the entire situation and in making my choice to stay, I have full confidence in the TCA, the coaching staff and the players who have been fantastic. As with my family, good friends only want what is best for you and this is the exact attitude that has come from all concerned here in Tasmania."

He stressed, along with the TCA Chairman, that his decision did not involve money. He is an Australian Cricket Board contracted player and his decision to remain in Tasmania was purely a cricket decision.

Watson said that his desire now was to regain full fitness and hopefully in the near future begin training on his cricket skills in order to be available for the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers at the commencement of next season. This was the first step in his quest to regain his place in the national One-Day team.

When asked if Watson would be a Tasmanian in five years time, Denis Rogers said: "Nobody has a crystal ball, but we would be very pleased if Shane remained with the Tigers for the duration of his cricket career, however, we do not want to put that sort of pressure on him at the moment. He is still a young man with a big future and we are extremely happy that his immediate future is with the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers. "