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| November 18, 2006 | Saturday | Shawwal 25, 1427 |
Watson in doubt for Test after injury
SYDNEY, Nov 17: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson could be a doubt for next week's first Ashes test after injuring a hamstring playing for Queensland against Western Australia in Perth on Friday.
Watson was bowling the first ball of his sixth over for Queensland when he pulled up sharply, clutching the back of his right leg.
He spoke with his captain Jimmy Maher before limping from the ground, raising doubts about his availability for the first Ashes test, starting in Brisbane on Thursday.
A Queensland team spokesman said Watson would travel to Brisbane on Saturday to be assessed by the Australian team's medical staff.
Watson was included in a 13-man Australian squad as a counter to English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and was expected to bat at number six.
If he is unavailable, Australia's selectors may have to look for another specialist all-rounder such as Andrew Symonds or go with an extra bowler or batsman.
The injury scare is the latest in a series of health problems that have restricted Watson's career to just three test appearances.
Meanwhile, Australia middle-order batsman Damien Martyn pulled out of his last warm-up match before the first Ashes Test on Friday with an elbow injury.
Martyn was due to play for Western Australia against Queensland in an interstate one-day match in Perth but withdrew because of tendonitis in his elbow.
Team officials said the injury was not serious but the 35-year-old was ordered to rest as a precaution, Australian Associated Press reported.
Martyn was included in a 13-man Australian squad to play England in the first Ashes test in Brisbane starting next week.—Reuters
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