Oz media says 'Black Knight' Watson's injury was 'almost certain' due to heavy schedule

The Australian media has said that 'The Black Knight' Shane Watson's injury problems were almost certain because of his heavy work schedule in this year.

The valuable but fragile Australian all-rounder began this year out of the national team with a calf strain suffered during the Boxing Day Test but then played in four different series or tournaments in India since February for four months, until he suffered a minor hamstring strain in Bangalore in the final one-day game of the series.

Telegraph.com.au mentions that Australia's team balance has been thrown out by Watson's latest injury heading into the crucial first Test at the Gabba, which makes him unlikely to bowl, adding that his injury issues might have been worsened because of his heavy schedule.

The report further said that Watson was beyond the control of Cricket Australia (CA) for months and blamed the board's 'vague and confusing' player management policy and its allowing the country's best players to play unfettered in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Watson's injury issues.

However, the report admitted that the circumstances are hopelessly compromised because of money and politics.

The report said that CA would not dare ban players from the IPL as they make a lot of money in the IPL and fears offending the powerful and 'vicious' Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which the report added, would happily bankrupt any opposing country's administration at the 'drop of a rupee'.