It didn’t take Shane Watson long to reintroduce the run-out to Australian cricket. Not since Watson was run out in the final Ashes clash against England in Sydney at the start of 2011 has an Australian batsman been caught short of his crease at Test level. But in Watson’s first Test since last year’s series in South Africa that streak came to end in ugly style as the allrounder was involved in a mix-up with Ricky Ponting against the West Indies in Barbados on Monday. Charging for a second run after working the ball to backward square leg, Watson was oblivious to Ponting’s lack of movement at the striker’s end. It all ended badly, with Ponting the man to go after both batsmen had a mid-pitch meeting while wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh gladly broke the stumps. It continued a worrying trend of Watson being on the field when an Australian batsman is run out. From the 21 run outs Australia have suffered in his 33-Test career, Watson has been involved in eight of them. But, while Ponting was clearly furious at his demise for just four runs and Watson dropped to his haunches in disappointment, captain Michael Clarke was more philosophical about the incident. “It’s no one’s fault,” said Clarke, who still couldn’t avoid grimacing as he was asked to discuss the run-out in the end of day media conference. “It’s part of the game. What can you do? “It’s unfortunate it happened today. It’s unfortunate it was a good player in Punter (Ponting) who has had a good summer and is in pretty good nick. “His runs would have been handy out there in the first innings but what it means is that he’s going to get a second chance because we’re definitely going to get a second bat.”
