A day after Santa Claus dominated discussions, Australian cricket was left wondering once again whether to believe in Shane Watson.

The No.3 batsman’s 52 in the third Test against India was his highest Test score in just under a year and he was stiff to be given out lbw.

But he was dismissed when he had laid the foundations for a big innings – and done plenty of brickwork, too.

It was another tease. For Watson, it’s an all to familiar scenario.

After 102 Test innings, the big allrounder still has only four centuries to his name.

It was Watson’s first Test half-century since his unbeaten 83 in the second dig of last year’s memorable Boxing Day Test win over England.

He joined opener Chris Rogers at the crease on Friday with Australia in early trouble at one for none.

Rogers and Watson knuckled down and did the hard yards as India’s seamers failed to capitalise and their fielders often failed to execute the basics.

No-one doubts Watson is a Test-standard cricketer.

But does anyone make a better-looking 20 or 30 and then fail to make the most of it?

A few minutes before lunch, he nearly did it again.

Watson edged Mohammed Shami to second slip where Shikhar Dhawan juggled the chance twice before grassing it.

The Australian was on 37 and it was a crucial life, with the home side starting to build momentum at 1-83.

Rogers and Watson took the score to 1-115 after lunch.

Then, the ball after the batsmen mixed up an attempted quick single, Rogers was caught behind for 57.

Rogers was kicking himself – it may well have been his last chance for a Boxing Day Test century.

But Watson’s dismissal the following over when he tried to sweep Ashwin was worse.

True, it is holding Rogers and Watson to different standards.

But he should have dug in and not given India the chance for a crucial double-breakthrough.

And for a man of his undoubted talents, it was another missed opportunity.