The fallout over Shane Watson’s Test suspension took another twist after Cricket Australia high performance manager Pat Howard claimed the national vice-captain was only “sometimes” a team player.

But Howard left the door open for Watson’s Test return – as long as the allrounder started toeing the team line.

Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were ruled ineligible for the third Test in India after failing to complete a task set for the team, now affectionately known as “homework-gate”.

Howard said it was the “final straw” after a series of disciplinary breaches by Australian players over time.

Howard said the four players stood down were not repeat offenders but did not do Watson any favours when asked if the vice-captain was a “team player”.

“In cricket it is interesting, There’s individual aspects. I think that is a hard one to measure,” he said in Brisbane on Tuesday.

But when pressed, Howard said: “I know Shane reasonably well. I think he acts in the best interests of the team sometimes.

“I am not going to get drawn into that any more.

“But there are failings in the system in that we are not getting the best out of Shane – that’s our fault.”

Watson is contemplating his future after flying home from the Test tour to be with his pregnant wife.

There’s confusion over whether he’ll return for the fourth Test in Delhi on March 22 but Howard said he was not worried about Watson’s future just yet.

“I am not worried about that at the moment,” he said.

“I will discuss it with him when I get a chance. I have left a message with his agent.

“But I think it is clear that whoever is playing for Australia has to be there for the right reasons.

“They have to want to win for Australia. You don’t get to pick and choose. It is the standards that the team sets – not playing under your own conditions.”