Perth: Allrounder Shane Watson has been left out of Australia’s side for their World Cup clash with Afghanistan in Perth.
 His involvement in the rest of the World Cup is in doubt as Australia made several changes for the game against Afghanistan at the WACA Ground.
The 33-year-old has been replaced in the side by James Faulkner, who has returned from a side injury.
It was one of two changes for the Australians, with Josh Hazlewood coming in to the side in place of Pat Cummins, who has a slight side injury of his own.
Watson’s axing means Steve Smith has been elevated to No.3 in the batting order, while Faulkner will bat at No.7.
“Faulkner’s in for Shane Watson, which 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,” said Rod Marsh, Chairman of the National Selection Panel.
For the first time in seven years, the all-rounder finds himself out of the Australian one-day side for reasons other than fitness after selectors lost patience with his run of outs in the 50-over format.
While Watson’s place in the Test and one-day team had been widely discussed throughout the summer, selectors stuck by him due to the balance he brought to the side. But James Faulkner’s return to fitness, combined with fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh’s strong start to the World Cup, meant there was no longer a place in the 11 for Watson.
Watson has scored 277 from his past 10 50-over matches for Australia, which includes the World Cup warm-up matches against India and UAE.
“Unfortunately he’s been getting starts but he hasn’t been going on with it, and we had to fit James in and someone had to go,” Marsh added.
Watson was dismissed for a first-ball duck in Australia’s opening match of the World Cup against England and scored 23 against New Zealand on Saturday.
The right-hander registered scores of 16, 41, 22 and 34 in the ODIs that preceded the tournament having missed three matches of the Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series with a hamstring injury.
Watson has a formidable record in ODI cricket; he averages 40.15 from 182 matches with nine centuries and 31 fifties, but hasn’t passed three figures since he scored 102 against India in October 2013.
He also hasn’t taken a wicket in the past six ODIs in which he’s bowled and hasn’t taken more than two wickets in an innings in 18 months.
Marsh said Watson could yet play an important role later in the tournament.
“It doesn’t mean anything going forward, except that he’s not in the XI at the moment. If things change then there’s no reason why he won’t be back in the XI,†he added.