MELBOURNE, Dec 29: All-rounder Shane Watson is considering playing only as a batsman and will talk over his plans with the Australian selectors after next week’s third Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney.

Watson will miss the final dead-rubber Sydney Test starting on Jan 3 with a calf injury which resurfaced during this week’s second Test in Melbourne.

The 31-year-old said he had felt some soreness before the match but was not rested despite Australia’s contentious policy of sidelining players considered close to the burn-out stage.

Watson has admitted he felt a niggle in his calf following the first Test in Hobart earlier this month, where he bowled 47.4 overs after swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus broke down during the game with a side strain.

“I am certainly doing some thinking about what my prospects are moving forward, with my bowling especially,” Watson told the Nine Network after Australia’s innings and 201-run victory over the Sri Lankans on Friday.

“I have to sit down with the hierarchy and work out the best way to manage things so I can put some cricket together for a period of time.”—AFP