Newly promoted vice captain unimpressed by selection decision
Australia vice captain Shane Watson has criticised the selectors' decision to dump his former opening partner Simon Katich.
Katich, 35, was left off Cricket Australia's list of 25 contracted players for the 2011-12 season as part of a youth movement.
Watson and Katich had been Australia's preferred Test opening partnership since midway through the 2009 Ashes in England.
"I was very disappointed to be totally honest because I've built up a really good friendship and opening partnership with Simon over the last two years and I've had a lot of fun batting with him," said Watson, 30.
Mileage
"For me, it was really disappointing because I still felt that he had another at least year or two of good cricket still in him.
"Being an opening partnership you do become a lot closer because you are taking on the best bowlers in the world together and you need a mate out there to be able to help you out."
Watson's comments follow a similar broadside from former Test skipper Ricky Ponting, who said two weeks ago he was shocked by Cricket Australia's snub to Katich.
