Australia's Watson left out for second South Africa Test

Australia's Shane Watson has failed in his bid to prove his fitness for the second Test against South Africa and was left out of an unchanged team for the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old all rounder missed the drawn first Test in Brisbane with a calf injury but had hoped to play as a specialist batsman in the second, which starts on Thursday.

"At this stage we think he's a couple of days short of his best," Australia captain Michael Clarke said.

"Our job is to get him fully right and we've now got eight days until the third Test in Perth."

Lefthander Rob Quiney, who made nine in his single innings on debut at the Gabba, keeps his place in the side and is again likely to bat at number three.

Paceman Ben Hilfenhaus has also retained his position in the team with left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc again handed the 12th man spot he had in Brisbane.

Team: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon.

Photographs: Sanjay Sawant/Rediff.com