Shane Watson to be unavailable until at least Christmas after sustaining a calf injury
Thunder skipper struck by injury
Former Australia allrounder Shane Watson will be sidelined for the start of Sydney Thunder’s KFC Big Bash League campaign after suffering a calf injury.
Watson sustained the problem to his left calf in a warm-up fixture between the defending BBL champions and Canterbury at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Saturday.
The 35-year-old left the field in the third over of Canterbury's innings and failed to bat as the Thunder fell to a 20-run defeat.
The Thunder have confirmed the injury to their captain, with Watson set to be unavailable until after Christmas.
He will miss at least his club’s tournament opener against rival Sydney Sixers on December 20 and their clash with Melbourne Renegades on December 22.
Thunder will then tackle Brisbane Heat on December 28 and Perth Scorchers on January 1.
“Scans completed in Sydney yesterday confirmed a low-grade left calf muscle strain,” Sydney Thunder Physiotherapist Murray Ryan said.
“Shane has commenced a rehabilitation process with the goal of returning to action after Christmas.”
Watson was named the Thunder’s new skipper in October following the retirement of Mike Hussey, who has taken over as director of cricket.
"I'm very excited to be chosen as captain of the Sydney Thunder," Watson said at the time.
"I've got big shoes to fill with Mike Hussey doing an incredible job over the past couple of years. I'm going to have to be at my best to live up to what Mike's done.
"I've got my own personality and style on how I like to play T20 cricket from my experiences of playing a lot of T20 cricket.
"Things won't change that much, but I have my own ideas on how the team can get the best out of themselves against world-class opposition."
Watson represented Australia 58 times in Twenty20 matches, hitting one ton and 10 half-centuries to go with 48 wickets.
He signed a three-year deal with the Thunder in May 2015, and is regarded as an elite performer in the game’s shortest format.
He scored 235 runs at 23.50, including two half-centuries, in BBL|05 and claimed nine wickets with a best of 3-13.
The Thunder will step up their preparations ahead of BBL|06 with practice games against Hong Kong, the Melbourne Stars and the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI before facing the Sixers at Spotless Stadium.