MELBOURNE: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has announced on Sunday, his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. The 34-year old played his last Test match against England in the first Ashes test where England won by 169 runs.
Watson was ruled out of the rest of the series, having failed to make any impact in the first Test against England. He made 30 and 19 in two innings of the first Test and failed to take a wicket, which cost him a place in rest of the Ashes.
The Test retirement of Shane Watson was announced on Cricket Australia’s official website. “It has been a hard decision of my life. It’s been a decision that hasn’t come lightly, over the last month especially,” Watson said.
” I know it’s the right time to make a decision and still play the shorter forms of the game.”
“I’ve been through various emotions about what is good for me, my family and my team as a whole. Over the last couple of days there was a lot of clarity (for me) of what the right decision was. I just know that I’ve given everything I possibly can to get the best out of myself.”
Watson was recently ruled out of a ODI series having sustained a calf injury. The veteran all-rounder captained a test and nine one-day internationals for Australia. He played 59 Tests for Australia, scoring 3,731 runs and taking 75 wickets, the TOI roported.
Shane Watson’s retirement follows Michael Clarke, who had retired from all forms of Cricket after the Ashes debacle.