In the eye of storm after 'homework-gate',all-rounder Shane Watson was the focus of attention during Australia's trainingsession at the Feroz Shah Kotla today ahead of the fourth and final cricketTest against India starting on Friday.
Peeved at being dropped from the playing XI of the third Testin Mohali after not completing a presentation on team performance, Watson wentback home as his wife was due to give birth to their first child.
The 'Proud Dad' was back in action during the training sessionbut what was eminently noticeable was the distinct lack of communicationbetween Watson and captain Michael Clarke during the two and half hour session.
The skipper, who is suffering from back spasms, is a doubtfulstarter as he didn't take part in the training session but not for once did onefind the two having a long chat with each other which normally a captain haswith his deputy.
Even during the customary net session, Clarke was having asession with the physio when Watson batted for around 35 minutes facing bothpace and spin.
While Watson had a bit of discussion with Mickey Arthur, whoinstructed the spinners Glenn Maxwell and Xavier Doherty to bowl to aparticular line, the vice-captain was engaged in a long chat with the youngSteven Smith.
Call it pure 'co-incidence' but Clarke dropped in at the adjacentnet area only after Watson was done with his session.
It was like 'Exit Watson' and 'Enter Clarke' when Watson wentback into the main stadium as Clarke came out to check his boys training.
There have been rumours of possible differences between thetwo but both have denied any fallout and maintained that they are good friends.
While most of the Australian players were busy at the net area,Watson alone, with the assistant coach, was seen taking slip catches inside themain stadium.
The normally eloquent Ed Cowan produced a 'dead bat' when askedabout the possibility of Watson leading the team in Clarke's absence.
"At the moment, Shane is not captain of the team,"was Cowan's curt reply.
"There are expectations that the vice-captain will stepup if the captain is injured but Shane is a good player and a goodleader," Cowan added what seemed like an afterthought.
Asked about what has changed in the dressing room from startof the Mohali Test and lead upto this match, Cowan replied, "The event inMohali provided a bit of solidarity in the team.
"It proved that if you are in, you are in. And Shanehas shown that he wants to be a part of it. The team is happy to have him backas he is one hell of a player."
The one who impressed the most during the session was tallfast bowler James Pattinson, who was seen working up a lot of pace as heunsettled the likes of David Warner and Phillip Hughes.
Pattinson, in all likelihood, will be coming in place of MitchellStarc, who has flown back home to have ankle surgery.