Tasmania disappointed with Sunshine Watson
A week after announcing his intention to follow the sun back home toQueensland, Shane Watson says Tasmanian officials are disappointed but willnot attempt to stop him leaving the state
Wisden Cricinfo staff
05-May-2004
A week after announcing his intention to follow the sun back home to
Queensland, Shane Watson says Tasmanian officials are disappointed but will
not attempt to stop him leaving the state.
Watson yesterday handed the required paperwork to Cricket Australia and the
Tasmania Cricket Association. "They were disappointed but gave me their
blessings," Watson revealed.
Any misgivings among long-suffering Tasmanian cricket followers are not
surprising. Watson, a powerful 22-year-old allrounder, was awarded the
vice-captaincy last summer and plundered 983 first-class runs at 52.
He has made no secret that Tasmania's fickle climate is a prime motivation
behind his desire to leave. Although TCA board members have yet to discuss
the move, he is confident there will be no hitch.
"They totally understood, I suppose, that they can't change the climate, the
lifestyle - and also they can't change relocating my family down to Hobart,"
he said.
Watson also repeated his claim that he had no qualms whatsoever about
touring Zimbabwe later this month, despite team-mate Darren Lehmann's
concession that there is "a concern about the whole scenario" among the
Australian players.