Michael Clarke felt a big hundred was just around the corner for Shane Watson, but Australia’s stand-in captain was unable to produce the goods on his first day in the captain’s blazer.
Striding out proudly to the toss in a tight-fitting jacket in Delhi, Watson won the toss and chose to bat.
Shortly after lunch on Friday, No.4 batsman Watson was out for 17 and his side were struggling at 4-115.
Still, Watson’s tally of 17 was 13 runs more than Clarke made on his captaincy debut.
However, Clarke’s record as skipper is magnificent including leading all run-scorers for 2012.
Clarke, who has a back injury, is likely to return for Australia’s next assignment in the Ashes series in England in July.
Watson hit three boundaries in his 17 before throwing himself down the pitch to spinner Ravindra Jadeja and being stumped by rival skipper MS Dhoni by a couple of metres.
Having produced only 94 runs at 18.80 in the series, Watson will be glad to return to the bowling crease as an allrounder in the Ashes as he regains bowling fitness because, on those numbers, he’s not a specialist batsman.
Watson said it had been an emotional few days.
The 31-year-old was one of four players banned from the third Test for disciplinary reasons after failing to complete a homework assignment on time, then returned to Sydney for the birth of his first child.
“It has been a very up and down week emotionally,” Watson said before play on Friday.
“To be stood down from a Test match hit me very hard and it’s been a great process over the week to get back into the team and contribute again.
“To have the opportunity to see the birth of my boy — I can never thank Mickey (coach Mickey Arthur) and Michael (Clarke) especially for giving (me) the opportunity to go home. It is the most amazing experience of my life.
“It’s amazing how if you get through the tough times, some nice things come along.
“It’s disappointing that Michael is not going to be fit for this Test match,” Watson said of his NSW teammate.
“His batting we are going to sorely miss – the amazing touch he is in at the moment and also his leadership skills.”
