This news led to a miffed Watson flying back home in a huff, adding to the growing speculation about a huge rift in the team. The Australian all-rounder added fuel to fire by saying, "I think it is very harsh... At this point in time I'm at a stage where I'm sort of weighing up my future."
Australia coach Mickey Arthur made the team management's stand clear at a press conference: "That's a line-in-the-sand moment. We have given these guys absolute clarity. After Hyderabad, the whole team was really hurting, we were discussing ways of getting back into the series.
"I asked the players at the end of the game to give me an individual presentation. I wanted three points from each of them technically, mentally and as a team, how we were going to get back over the next couple of games, how we were going to get ourselves back into the series. Unfortunately, four players didn't comply with that," said Arthur.
However, there appeared to be more to it than the Aussies were willing to reveal. The Aussie skipper Michael Clarke gave a hint when he addressed the Australia media here and said: "No doubt it's been a tough day. I want the public and media to understand, don't get me wrong, it's not just about one incident."
Former skipper Ian Chappell added to this feeling. "I don't remember anything of this sort in Australian cricket in the past... You go back to 1911 when the big six pulled out of the tour of England... I must say I am surprised, I can't believe the reasons... There must be more to it than this," he was quoted by Australian media.
There was more trouble waiting for the beleaguered Aussies - trailing 0-2 in the four-Test series - as wicketkeeper Matthew Wade became doubtful after suffering a freak ankle injury while playing basketball. Veteran gloveman Brad Haddin has been called in as cover for Wade.
Earlier, Arthur made it clear that the dropped players failed to meet the deadline and it was important to maintain team discipline by punishing them.
"We pride ourselves on attitude. We have given the players a huge amount of latitude to get culture and attitude right," Arthur said. "Teams that are the best in the world have best attitudes and best behaviour patterns and a good, hard, ruthless culture. I believe those four players unfortunately did not meet my requirements, so those four are not available for selection for this Test match," he added.
According to Arthur, even skipper Clarke felt it was time to crack the whip in what has been a thoroughly disappointing series for the team. "Myself and Pup (Clarke) came to the conclusion that we have been so focused on winning cricket games that maybe some people have been cutting corners. Perhaps there have been some soft options taken. We decided that we needed to really get that in line," Arthur said.
The stunning turn of events leaves Australia with just 13 players to choose from for the third Test, which starts here on Thursday. However, the coach made it clear that the four players would be available for the fourth Test in Delhi.
Arthur said it was a tough decision to drop Watson but he had to apply the axe irrespective of how big the player was.
"I have never ever doubted, not for one moment, the drive of Shane Watson. Not for one moment. Shane Watson prepares well. He's very professional and he goes about his business in a very professional way. I've not ever been in a position to doubt Shane Watson the person or Shane Watson the cricketer.
"It's extremely tough to sit here and make that decision. I wish it wasn't the vice-captain, I wish it wasn't Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson, they are leaders within the team and are very professional with the way they go about their business. But this was a moment where we had to make a statement irrespective of who the players were," Arthur said.
"Usman Khawaja is different. This will be the catalyst I think for Khawaja to realize we're pretty serious in the Australian cricket team."
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