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World Cup: Shane Watson may have to wait for Australia recall, says Rod Marsh

'An injury or loss of form may be only way back for veteran'

Image: Shane Watson: Has nine ODI hundreds to his name

Rod Marsh insists Shane Watson’s international career is not over – but says he could have his work cut out getting back into the side.

Watson, 33, was dropped from the Baggy Greens’ side to tackle Afghanistan at the WACA on Wednesday in order to accommodate fit-again all-rounder James Faulkner.

Australia subsequently racked up a World Cup record 417-6 in Perth – David Warner clobbering a career-best 178 – and Marsh, chairman of the country’s National Selection Panel, feels Watson may have to bide his time before earning a recall.

“It was a big and tough decision but it’s one we thought we had to make, because in Shane’s last 10 one-day games he's got 220 runs at an average of 22,” said Marsh.

He's hasn't gone on from starts and we had to get Faulkner in, so someone had to go.
Rod Marsh on Shane Waton

"Unfortunately he’s been getting starts but he hasn’t been going on with it. We had to fit James in so someone had to go.

"I'm not saying it was a choice between any players, but it just happened to be it was Shane’s time to go for this particular match.”

“It doesn’t mean anything going forward, except that he’s not in the XI at the moment, and if things change then there’s no reason why he won’t be back in the XI.

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“He might have to rely on someone else’s lack of form or an injury to get back in, but it’s a good situation to be in when you’ve got both Watson and George Bailey out of the side – two extremely well-credentialed one-day players.

”It's tough to get in the Australian team at the moment and that's the way we like it. If hard decisions have to be made, we have to make them."

Right

The absence of Watson – whose unbeaten 185 against Bangladesh in 2011 remains Australia’s highest individual ODI score – led to Steve Smith being deployed at No 3.

Cricket World Cup 2015

Sydney-born Smith flourished in his new role, clubbing 95 from 97 balls, while Glenn Maxwell (88 off 39) also caused carnage after being promoted into the upper-middle order following Australia’s electric start.

Michael Clarke, who batted at four in the thrilling defeat to New Zealand on Saturday, did not head to the wicket at all against Afghanistan, and former Australia seamer Jason Gillespie praised the captain for being flexible.

“Clarke thought on his feet and I thought that was the right decision,” said Yorkshire coach and Sky Sports pundit Gillespie.

“It’s not all about Michael Clarke, it’s about the Australian cricket team and the best way they can score as many runs as quickly as possible.

“Clarke is not a windy-whoosh, hit-it-out-the-park player so when you are only one down off 30-odd overs you use the big-hitting resources you have.”

Power

Clarke echoed Gillespie's thoughts at the post-match presentation and even thinks individual scores of 300 could be achieveable in ODI cricket, with the 200-run mark having been passed five times before, twice by Rohit Sharma and once each by Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle.

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Michael Clarke says Australia were much improved from their game against New Zealand on the day The Aussies posted a World Cup record 417-6 in their victor

"I was thinking about coming in at No 4 and would have liked to have had a bat to get some runs under my belt, but I think it was best for the team to make the decisions I did," said Clarke.

"Someone like Warner, Gayle or De Villiers could [get 300 in an innings] on a smaller ground but you probably have to open the batting so you have the full 50 overs.

"In this game at the moment, who knows? We are seeing so many different shots, different deliveries, so much power.

"There are a handful of players round the world who probably could do it."

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