Rested Watson to miss three one-dayers against England

Friday, 17 January 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Australia’s Shane Watson will miss the next three one-day internationals against England after the all-rounder, already rested for the second match in Brisbane, was ruled out of the subsequent contests in Sydney and Perth.

With Watson absent, fellow all-rounder Daniel Christian was recalled to the team for the three matches, his first taste of international cricket since being part of the squad for the World Twenty20 event in Sri Lanka in 2012. “Given Shane’s workload in the past 12 months, we consider it would be beneficial for him to have a longer break and continue his training program at home in Sydney ahead of the final ODI and the tour of South Africa,” Australia coach Darren Lehmann said in a Cricket Australia statement on Thursday. After completing a 5-0 whitewash in the Ashes series, Australia won the first one-dayer against England in Melbourne at the weekend and will be out to extend their dominance in the second contest of the five-match series on Friday. The fifth and final match is in Adelaide on 26 January.