Summary Watson left the tour last week only hours after he and three teammates were suspended for a match.
MELBOURNE (AP) - Australia vice-captain Shane Watson is returning to India after serving a controversial one-test ban.
Watson left the tour last week only hours after he and three teammates were suspended for a match for failing to submit self-critiques to Australia coach Mickey Arthur by a set deadline.
At the time, he said he was flying home to be with his pregnant wife before the birth of their first child and needed to consider his cricket future.
Cricket Australia announced Monday that Watson would rejoin the squad ahead of the fourth test starting March 22 in New Delhi.
The severity of the punishment divided public opinion in Australia, with many ex-test players pouring ridicule and scorn on the ban but some commentators supporting a stricter approach to team discipline as the team tries to regain the No. 1 test ranking.
Fast bowlers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson and backup batsman Usman Khawaja were also suspended for a test after failing to comply with Arthur s instructions, prompting the harsh crackdown. Arthur said it was the last straw after too many instances of poor discipline within the squad.
Watson was the central character in the fallout, particularly after Cricket Australia s high performance manager Pat Howard described the 31-year-old, 40-test veteran as a team player "sometimes."
The timing of the ban proved to be fortuitous for Watson as his son, Will, was born last Thursday.
Watson, who had struggled for form with the bat since returning to the test arena following a string of injuries, said he d had "several constructive discussions" with team management in Australia and India.
"We ve spoken about how we are going to work together to move forward, as Australia attempts to climb back to the top of the ICC rankings," Watson said. "I ve a burning ambition to be an Australian test player for as long as I can be."
Watson said he d spoken with Howard and "we are both now on the same page."
"I m entirely committed to the team and being the best player I can be," Watson said.
In a Cricket Australia statement, Arthur congratulated Watson and wife, Lee, on the birth of their son and welcomed the vice-captain back into the squad.
"Shane s recommitment to the team in his chats with me this week have been really positive," Arthur said. "We re looking forward to having Watto back and around the group as we prepare for the fourth test."
