Watson joins Aussies ahead of first West Indies Test

MELBOURNE: Star all-rounder Shane Watson joined Australia’s Test squad in the West Indies on Wednesday, following the birth of his second child in Sydney.
Watson, however, will not participate in the three-day tour game against WICB President’s XI in North Sound, the only warm-up match before the two-Test series gets underway on June 3.
Watson had delayed his departure for the Caribbean due to the impending birth of his second child - who was born on May 24 - and was uncertain for the first Test.
Apart from Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith and David Warner will also miss the warm-up match, after the team management opted to rest players returning from the IPL season.
Meanwhile, the Aussies will look to soften up West Indies with a barrage of bouncers in the upcoming Test series, bowling coach Craig McDermott has said.
The Australians play the first of two Tests at Windsor Park in Dominica next week and have included uncapped legspinner Fawad Ahmed in the squad along with front-line offspinner Nathan Lyon in anticipation of flat, slow wickets.
However, McDermott said Australia’s pacemen could still have an impact after learning some harsh lessons from the slow pitches in the Middle East where they laboured in a 2-0 series defeat by Pakistan last year.
“We’ve just got to make sure we get enough balls in the right areas and be relentless and patient and stick two up their nose an over,” McDermott said.