IANS/Sydney


Australian cricketers have expressed anguish at the prospect of reliving the tragic visions of late batsman Phillip Hughes getting fatally struck by a bouncer in a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) when the fourth Test against India begins on Tuesday.
All-rounder Shane Watson, also the No3 batsman, was one of four members of the Australian team who were in the field Nov 25 when Hughes collapsed on the ground after getting hit in the head.
“It’s the first time I’ve been back here since just before Phil’s funeral. It was always a time that I wasn’t really looking forward to, coming back to the ground,” Watson was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald Saturday.
“But in the end, enough time has sort of passed to be able to find my own personal way to be able to deal with what happened to Phil. I’m sure once I get out into the middle and playing, those visions will be coming back.”
Watson said the team will address the issue of the emotional quotient of the players in check before stepping onto the field.
“We’ve only really come together just now, so I’m sure we will (address the issue) over the next couple of days, especially the guys who were on the field at that moment. I still haven’t been out in the middle yet so I’m sure once I go out there all those memories will come flooding back very quickly,” he said.
The all-rounder stated that he was uncomfortable negotiating bouncers in the first two Tests at Adelaide and Brisbane but gradually eased into the task at Melbourne.
“Melbourne was the first time after getting through especially the short ball that I started to feel comfortable or more comfortable again. For the first couple of Tests it was always in the back of my mind, obviously, because of what I saw and trying to go through it and process what happened that day out here,” the 33-year-old said.
“Melbourne was the first time I really started to feel the confidence sort of grew back in myself and my game to know that my instincts are going to be hopefully good enough to play the short ball well and not get myself in too much trouble.”