Australian selectors say they have learnt their lesson and are not willing to risk Shane Watson's fitness as Australia enters a gruelling, year-long Test schedule.
Watson has been ordered to return home from the Sydney Sixers' Champions League T20 campaign in South Africa after three games to prepare for the three-Test home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Cricket Australia high performance manager Pat Howard said the experience of last summer, where Watson missed nearly the entire summer through injury, was very fresh in selectors' minds as they prepared to name the Australian side to take on South Africa in Brisbane.
The all-rounder's last Test was in the West Indies in April, after breaking down with a hamstring injury on the tour of South Africa.
Watson scored 46 in his opening match against the Chennai Super Kings but is expected to return home shortly to rest and prepare for the Test series.
"Shane is an important cog for the selection panel," Howard said.
"You can't play every game in all the tournaments all the time. The fact is he is an all-rounder.
"Shane's pretty unique, he's had a fairly unique history.
"He missed a lot (of cricket) last summer, (and) he played Champions League - we know his history, and we're trying to avoid the same mistakes we made last year."
Howard said there was a possibility of Watson playing for Australia A or the New South Wales second XI to tune up for the Gabba Test starting on November 9.
"It depends how he recovers. He's done a significant amount of flying - UAE, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
"We'll see how he goes ... but he will need some red-ball cricket."
Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said the team would be announced on October 30 or 31.
Inverarity said selectors were happy with their pace bowling options for Brisbane, where the pitch is likely as always to aid the quicks.
"I think of all the selections that take place for the first Test in Brisbane, (the pace attack) is pretty obvious," Inverarity said.
"We're just delighted we've got the pace bowling on tap that we have."
He indicated that Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson were in good form, Ben Hilfenhaus was testing himself in South Africa in the Champions League, while young Patrick Cummins was a great prospect who had to be managed well.
"With Pat Cummins coming back ... the obvious question in Brisbane is do we play three pace bowlers, Shane Watson and a spinner, or do we play four pace bowlers and use Michael Clarke's spin?
"The early season Shield matches ... the pace bowlers have dominated."
Inverarity said there was a good chance that Australia would play four pace bowlers.
He gave little away on the key wicketkeeper position, saying that it would come down to Matthew Wade and Brad Haddin.
"We're fairly advanced in our thinking... it's a very close decision and we'll have to make a final decision toward the end of this month," Inverarity said.
"We're aware of all the factors. The facts are that Matthew is 24 and rising, Brad turns 35 about now.
"Matthew is more for the future, but we are focused on who deserves it and who will do better against South Africa.
"In the end we will have to make a decision, it will be a very close decision, and in the end we will go one way or the other."
Coach Mickey Arthur said the series was first and foremost about Australia regaining the number one Test ranking, currently held by the Proteas.
"We have a massive opportunity to get back to number one in the world and that's what this series is going to be about," he said.
"It's definitely the two best pace attacks in the world going head to head.
"It is going to be about the batters, which top six can adapt better.
"I think for the top six it will be a real baptism of fire ... it's a great opportunity for them to test themselves against two world class bowlers.
"If they can come through that, if they can come out on top they can look forward to a really good long Test career."
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, south-africa First posted October 16, 2012 12:34:52
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