Shane Watson speaks to the media after pulling out of the first Test © Getty Images

The physiotherapist Alex Kountouris wanted Watson to be bowling today but he managed only a handful of laps around the Gabba and some sprint work before limping off the field. He wiped his cheeks a couple of times before heading to the dressing room.

"I've done everything I can over the last three or four days to get it right but unfortunately I'm another couple of days away," Watson said. "It's not a good feeling."

Watson suffered the tear during a one-day match for Queensland on Friday and has "worked around the clock" to be ready. On Monday he had a second lot of scans, which showed the 1cm problem area, but he was in severe doubt after delivering off only three paces in the nets.

Watson will now look to win back a spot for the second Test at Adelaide on December 1. "I've just got to get right and hopefully a few things might go my way," he said. "Playing two spinners would help my cause."

The episode continues Watson's poor record with injury after he missed the 2003 World Cup with a back problem, dislocated his shoulder during the first Test of 2005-06 and experienced severe gastro during last month's Champions Trophy. At the official Test lunch Ricky Ponting light-heartedly revealed Andrew Symonds' theory on Watson's easily broken body. "He reckons Shane's got blow-up muscles and they keep popping," Ponting said.

Ponting said Watson would become a great player despite the setbacks. "This couldn't come at a worse time for him," he said. "Just as he's been making it at international level he's fallen over. We are all looking forward to him getting his body sorted and showing us what he can achieve."

While Watson was severely disappointed, the decision gives Clarke, who was omitted from the initial 13-man squad, a chance to reignite his stalled Test career. Clarke, who scored a crucial 91 at Lord's in the first Test of the 2005 series, returned to the side during the Bangladesh series in April but he managed scores of 19, 9 and 23 not out.

Australia's loss of an allrounder also firms Stuart Clark's prospects of joining Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson are fighting with Clark for a place on a green-tinged surface but it is unlikely Australia will risk the young bowlers in the streamlined attack.