Out-of-form Watson's ODI future in doubt

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson might reportedly just have played his last ODI for the team after he was dropped from the side that beat Afghanistan by a record 275 runs in their World Cup tie on Wednesday, with chairman of selectors Rod Marsh insisting that he have to rely on someone else's lack of form or an injury to get back in.

Watson, who has been an automatic selection by Australia, struggled in the first two matches against England, going off for a duck and gave bowling figures of 0-13, and New Zealand, scoring 23 and not bowling.

Watson, who has only one half century in seven games this year, was dropped, as Australia picked all-rounder James Faulkner instead at the WACA ground, and retained fledgling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh alongside him, Sport24 reported.

Skipper Michael Clarke said that Watson handled the decision well, adding that the all-rounder has been fantastic around the team, insisting that he has taken it really well.

Over Watson's future, Clarke said that it was up to the selectors to make that decision.

Australian chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said that dropping Watson was a tough call, but insisted that it's one they thought they had to make, because in the all-rounder's last 10 one-day games, he's got 220 runs at an average of 22.

Marsh claimed that Watson has unfortunately been getting starts, but insisted that he hasn't been going on with it. He claimed that they had to fit Faulkner in, and someone had to go, insisting that Watson might have to rely on someone else's lack of form or an injury to get back in.

Marsh said that spots are tough to get in the Australian team at the moment, and added that that's the way they like it, insisting that if hard decisions have to be made, they have to make them.