Watson blasts Clarke’s ‘tumour’ jibe

AFP, SYDNEY: Shane Watson has hit back at Michael Clarke’s claim he was part of a group that was “like a tumour” in Australia’s cricket team, saying it reflected poorly on the former captain.
In a television interview with Australia’s Channel Nine to promote his autobiography, the retired Clarke spoke of stormy relationships during his long career.
This included with Watson, who was one of four players suspended by then-coach Mickey Arthur and captain Clarke for the third Test against India in Mohali in 2013.
Vice-captain Watson was suspended and sent back to Australia for not doing his “homework”, after he failed to provide a written report on how to improve the team’s performance.
Clarke denied singling out the all-rounder as a “cancer” on the team, a claim made by Arthur in documents connected to legal action over his sacking three years ago.
But he admitted saying Watson was one of a number of players who were “like a tumour, and if we don’t fix it, it’s going to turn into a cancer”.
Watson, who has also retired from international cricket, said it was pointless reopening old wounds.
“For me I think it was more a reflection of the person he is more than what it was directed towards me,” Watson told Fox Sports late Tuesday.
“In the end it is really disappointing that things like that start to come out two or three years later on when we are all very content in retirement.”
Another report from London adds: Australia all-rounder James Faulkner is returning to Lancashire for next year’s edition of English cricket’s Twenty20 Blast competition, the northwest county announced Tuesday.
Faulkner, 26 helped the Old Trafford club win the 2015 edition, when he was the joint leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 25 wickets in 13 matches and also scored 302 runs.

Watson blasts Clarkes tumour jibe

AFP, SYDNEY: Shane Watson has hit back at Michael Clarkes claim he was part of a group that was like a tumour in Australias cricket team, saying it reflected poorly on the former captain. In a television interview with Australias Channel Nine to promote his autobiography, the retired Clarke spoke of stormy relationships during his long career. This included with Watson, who was one of four players suspended by then-coach Mickey Arthur and captain Clarke for the third Test against India in Mohali in 2013. Vice-captain Watson was suspended and sent back to Australia for not doing his homework, after he failed to provide a written report on how to improve the teams performance. Clarke denied singling out the all-rounder as a cancer on the team, a claim made by Arthur in documents connected to legal action over his sacking three years ago. But he admitted saying Watson was one of a number of players who were like a tumour, and if we dont fix it, its going to turn intoa cancer. Watson, who has also retired from international cricket, said it was pointless reopening old wounds. For me I think it was more a reflection of the person he is more than what it was directed towards me, Watson told Fox Sports late Tuesday. In the end it is really disappointing that things like that start to come out two or three years later on when we are all very content in retirement. Another report from London adds: Australia all-rounder James Faulkner is returning to Lancashire for next years edition of English crickets Twenty20 Blast competition, the northwest county announced Tuesday. Faulkner, 26 helped the Old Traffordclub win the 2015 edition, when he was the joint leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 25 wickets in 13 matches and also scored 302 runs.