Shane Watson: Failure to justify talent and the infamous Homework Gate

The Australian all-rounder was troubled by consistent injury concerns and failure to match his potential

When Shane Watson made his Test debut against Pakistan, a decade ago, he was tipped to become one of Australia’s top all-rounders.

A spate of injuries, coupled with form concerns and one big controversy in India, meant that the promise shown by Watson’s talents was far from being fulfilled.

- Out-of-form and injury ridden, Shane Watson quits Test cricket

Even modern Aussie bowling great, Glenn McGrath was in awe of what he saw and had said that the burly cricketer would be “one of the best all-rounders Australia has ever seen.”

The 34-year-old Watson though failed to match those words and his potential, facing a decline in form in recent times and finally announced his retirement from Test cricket on Sunday.

Since Ricky Ponting’s retirement after the return Ashes series in 2013, the responsibility of batting at No 3 was placed on Watson’s big burly shoulders as the Aussies experimented with a number of options in that batting position.

But with an average of under 40 in the No 3 position, Watson invited criticism from all quarters.

During India’s tour to Australia late last year, Watson was struggling to get runs under his belt.

The frustration of watching Watson struggle forced even Warne, a big supporter of Watson to say he was disappointed.

“In Test cricket he’d be the first to say, ‘I’m disappointed with my Test career so far’”, Warne had told the Daily Telegraph.

“He’s such a talking point (because) we can see the talent.

“He frustrates us.

“Twenty three 50s and four hundreds is something he’s disappointed at.”

The injuries and form aside, it was that famous fall-out with then captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur that brought ignominy unto Watson.

On Australia’s tour of India in early 2013, rumours were rife of rifts in the ranks. The team, then coached by former South Africa coach Arthur, had just lost the second Test in Hyderabad to go 0-2 down in the Test series.

Australian cricket was plunged into crisis after Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja were banished from the team for the third Test in Mohali for failing to provide their thoughts on how Australia could improve.

The incident was famously known as the Homework Gate as many commentators likened the incident to schoolboys forgetting to do their homework.

The team management had then said that the punishment was not isolated but the culmination of a build-up of minor disciplinary issues helped start the turning of the tide.

Watson was singled out for criticism.

Well-respected cricket journalist and author Gideon Haigh had said it was no surprise that Watson had been one of those punished.

"Probably more coaching and management resources have been poured into him than any cricketer of his generation -- for the dividend of two centuries in 40 Tests," he wrote in the newspaper, Australian.

"He is a handsome player of abundant talent. He is also wealthy, pampered, immature and self-involved. That's what a life in modern professional sport can make of you."

Australia were eventually whitewashed in that series 0-4 and Watson cited that as the ‘lowest point in my career’.