Shane Watson left shaken after being struck on helmet by James Pattinson

Shane Watson (L)

Melbourne, Dec 23 (IANS) Australia's preparation for the Boxing Day Test against India began in dramatic fashion here on Tuesday, with all-rounder Shane Watson being struck on the head by a James Pattinson bouncer and Mitchell Starc also copping a nasty blow while batting in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) nets.

Watson was struck flush on the helmet during the Australia's morning practice session, a Pattinson short ball doing the damage as the allrounder was floored landing on his backside.

The 33-year-old slowly removed his helmet, carefully inspected it and gingerly walked out of the nets. He then sat on an esky, head in hands and visibly distressed as the team doctor Peter Brukner attended to him.

Watson a bit shaken but okay – Brad Haddin

A Cricket Australia (CA) spokesperson said the dazed Watson was shaken but otherwise okay after, and vice-captain Brad Haddin later confirmed his teammate had escaped unscathed.

"I had a chat with him - he's a bit shaken, but he's ok," Haddin said was quoted as saying in the CA website.

The tragic death of Phillip Hughes last month has heightened sensitivity around batsmen getting struck in the head, but Haddin was reluctant to read too much into the incident.

"It's just getting hit in the head - he's just a bit shaken," he said. "He's shaken as anyone would be. I can't really go into any more details because there's no more details to give."

Pattinson, too, seemed shaken by the incident and was ushered into the change rooms after enquiring Watson's well-being. Watson later skipped the team's public appearance at the MCG for CA's Family Day activities, returning instead to the team hotel.

Watson was playing for New South Wales on November 25 when Hughes was struck by the short ball that led to his tragic death. He spoke on December 7 about how difficult it had been to prepare mentally for the India Test series.

Only 10 minutes earlier, while batting in the nets alongside Watson, Starc appeared to inside edge a delivery from a net bowler onto his knee and yelled in pain. He sat momentarily in the nets limping out of the nets.

Starc is expected to be replaced in the team for the third Test against India starting Friday, with veteran paceman Ryan Harris likely to return from injury.

Opener David Warner was a notable absentee from the nets, watching on with his injured thumb, but he is still expected to play.

Australia take a two-nil lead into the third Test against India, beginning here on Friday.