Shocking News : Aussie drop Watson, Khawaja, Pattinson & Johnson

To call is shocking will only be an Understatement……. Indian players must understand the luxury… after 0-4 in England; 0-4 in Australia, most players were retained as the BCCI showed no urgency in chopping team or changing players…… it is open that some players have behaved arrogantly, placed their interests above that of team ~ have not cared for the close-knit team and yet could command their places in playing XI.

Perhaps changing a Team never happens on Tours; at Home, Countries have the practice of announcing their Team mid-series but there may not be sweeping changes……. When on tour, team do drop a couple of players but most Senior players would retain their places.. the Indian practice is that team-selection on a tour is in the hands of the Coach and the Captain……….. after many a failures, the Captain, the players remain…….that is India.

Australia is in shambles ~ they are not able to digest their 0-2 drubbing in as many Tests………. But what has happened today is shocking to say the least.  First Post reports that four players - Australia vice-captain Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson have been dumped out and  will not be considered for selection for the third Test against India, which starts at Mohali  on March 14.

Coach Mickey Arthur and team manager Gavin Dovey made the announcement today and this is reported to be a disciplinary action.   It is reported that Players were asked to make a presentation about how the team can improve but didn’t comply with the request according to reports on television. “Players were asked to outline three points on what they bring to the team by email or in person, and given five days to complete the task,” team manager Dovey is quoted as saying. Arthur said the shock axings were a move to maintain standards in team culture. “This is a line in the sand,” he said.

“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. ‘‘I believe those four players unfortunately did not meet my requirements so those four players are not available for selection for this Test match.’’ Arthur said the quartet would be available for the final Test in Delhi.

It’s a shocking move. Australia have already lost wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and along with Michael Clarke, Shane Watson is one of their most experienced players. James Pattinson has been their best bowler and many thought Usman Khawaja was being considering to take the place of Phil Hughes for the third Test. Remaining Aussie team: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon, Brad Haddin (wk).

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

11^th Mar 2013.