Shane Watson on Monday thanked Cricket Australia for showing unbelievable compassion towards him.

Watson was talking about his mercy dash a week ago from India for the birth of his first child, Will, at Sydney’s St George Hospital.

But it’s not a massive stretch to say he could just as easily have been discussing his return to the Test side as vice-captain, or even captain, for the fourth Test in Delhi on March 22.

Coach/selector Mickey Arthur, captain/selector Michael Clarke and team manager Gavin Dovey banned four players last Monday from the third Test in Mohali for failing to deliver a homework assignment on time.

Arthur said it was the last straw following a string of disciplinary lapses within the team including lateness and backchat.

Two-time Allan Border Medallist Watson was the highest profile of the four players who received one-match suspensions.

Watson said before travelling home to Sydney he felt the bans were harsh and he was considering his future.

It all looked like a hissy fit.

Watson told reporters at Sydney airport on Monday before heading to Delhi for Friday’s fourth Test against India he was on the same page with Cricket Australia’s head coach Arthur and high-performance manager Pat Howard.

Howard is the guy who said Watson was a good team man “sometimes”.

Watson had returned fire to Howard, saying the former rugby international had only been around cricket for a short time and didn’t know him well.

Now they’re both heading to Delhi.

Personality clashes aside — Watson says he’s had positive discussions with Howard and Arthur and has denied a rift with Clarke — Watson’s numbers aren’t stacking up.

With 77 runs at 19.75, Watson is letting the team down in terms of leadership and runs and is lucky to have the deputy’s role.

Clarke’s back injury has put the captain in doubt for the Delhi Test and Watson remarkably could go from the sin bin in one match to captain in the next.

Australia’s leadership crisis is so acute that back-up wicketkeeper Brad Haddin — who was playing the third Test after Matthew Wade was ruled out with an ankle injury — was acting skipper in the third Test when Clarke was off the field.

Watto, your country needs you.