No choice but to drop Shane Watson, says Aussie selector Rod Marsh

Perth: Australia`s chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said Wednesday that Shane Watson`s poor form with the bat meant they had little choice but to drop the experienced all-rounder.

The 33-year-old, who averages 50.89 with the bat in career World Cup matches, was axed from the side to face Afghanistan at the WACA and replaced by fellow all-rounder James Faulkner, returning from a side strain.

"(It) is a big decision but it`s one we thought we had to make because in Shane`s last 10 one-day games he`s got 220 runs at an average of 22 and unfortunately he`s been getting starts but he hasn`t been going on with it," said Marsh.

"We had to fit James in and someone had to go. I`m not saying it was a choice between any players but just happened to be it was Shane`s time to go for this particular match."

However, Marsh said it was far from the end of Watson`s ODI career.

"It doesn`t mean anything going forward except that he`s not in the XI at the moment," he said. "If things change then there`s no reason he won`t be back in the XI.

"He`s a fine, fine player, he`s averaging 40 in one-day cricket and it was a tough decision. He`s in the 15 still, that`s the thing, and hopefully he`ll find himself back in the team at some stage.

"If hard decisions have to be made we have to make them."