SHANE Watson’s long-awaited return to Hampshire is a step closer to reality following his retirement from Test cricket.

Watson, who returned to the Ageas Bowl for the opening match of the one-day international series on Thursday, starred for Hampshire in 2004 and 2005, writes Simon Walter.

He has remained in contact with Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove and appears likely to play for the county again next season, possibly in white-ball cricket only, after admitting he has lost the “fight” to continue his Test career at the age of 34.

Watson won 59 Test caps, the last of which came in the opening match of this summer’s Ashes at Cardiff, where England won by 169 runs. He admitted he reached the decision to quit with a hint of regret.

Cricket Australia revealed the all-rounder’s decision on its website on Sunday, coinciding with Watson being ruled out of the rest of the Royal London one-day international series by a calf injury sustained in the tourists’ victory at Lord’s on Saturday.

Watson said: “It’s been a decision that hasn’t come about lightly, over the past month especially, but I just know it’s the right time to be able to move on and still, hopefully, play the shorter formats of the game.

“I just know that I’ve given everything I possibly can to get the best out of myself. I just think it’s time to move on.

“I don’t have that real fight in me, especially for Test cricket knowing the lengths physically I have to go to, and mentally and technically as well, to be able to get back to my best again in Test cricket.

“I haven’t achieved certainly all the things I dreamed of achieving in Test cricket - average 50 with the bat and in the 20s with the ball.

“That’s obviously the dream as an all-rounder to achieve and I didn’t get anywhere near that, but I do know I gave it everything I possibly could to be able to get the best out of myself. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

Watson, an Ashes winner in 2013-14, began and ended his Test career in the Australia middle order but it was as an opener that he enjoyed most success in the five-day game.

First pressed into the role during the 2009 Ashes in England, Watson made a success of the promotion and stayed at the top of the Australian order for over two years before spending the rest of his Test career in varying roles.

Between his regular opening stint and retirement, he batted in every slot in the top six, scoring 3,731 runs at 35.19, including four centuries, two of which came in Ashes contests. He took 75 wickets at 33.68.