Watson may be out of action for three weeks

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson may be out of action for up to three weeks after sustaining a minor tear in his left calf muscle in the World Cup Super Eights match against Bangladesh on Saturday.

''It's not oh my God, he's definitely out of the tournament,'' Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris told the Australian Associated Press. ''But it's a muscle strain halfway through the tournament so it's obviously a bit of a concern.'' Asked if Watson would be fit for the semi-finals on April 24 and 25, Kountouris replied: ''He's likely to be.'' ''He had a history of that hamstring strain this summer, which probably didn't go that well.

''We have got a little bit of history with how he hurt himself with a similar sort of injury in the Pura Cup final last year. We'll use all that information and be as cautious as we possibly.'' Watson, who left the field after bowling only 10 balls against Bangladesh, has a long injury history.

He missed the 2003 World Cup with a back injury and did not play in the recent Ashes series because of a hamstring complaint.

If Watson is unavailable for the remainder of the Super Eights, Brad Hodge, who scored a century in the first round, is likely to take his place.

Hodge made way for Andrew Symonds for the final Group A match against South Africa when the all-rounder returned after a recovering from a torn biceps muscle.

REUTERS PDS RN2133

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