Australian Watson may be asked to step in as replacement for the injured Michael Clarke.
With Australian skipper Michael Clarke struggling with a back injury, it appears Shane Watson will be asked to fill in as captain for the fourth and final Test against India on Friday.
Although Watson is technically the vice-captain, the fact that he was suspended from the side for unprofessional behaviour and missed the third Test has raised some eyebrows about his potential role as captain.
Watson, along with Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja and James Pattinson, were all axed from the third Test in India after failing to give performance presentations to Australia’s coaching staff.
The all-rounder then ruled himself out of the fourth Test in Delhi and returned home to be with his heavily pregnant wife.
However, since the birth of his first child the 31-year-old has made a u-turn on his decision and looks set to return for the final Test of the series. With Clarke’s fitness now in doubt it seems Watson is set to lead the side on his comeback.
“That could be a discussion with the other on-duty selectors as to what we did but Shane at the moment is vice-captain,” head coach Arthur said on Fox Sports.
“You would have to assume that because he is still the vice-captain that we probably wouldn’t go past him.”
Clarke’s injury troubles will worry Arthur in the build-up to the Ashes. Although the series in England doesn’t start until July, the Aussie captain is set to feature in the IPL before then for Pune Warriors which could test his fitness.
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