Former all-rounder Shane Watson had earned a maiden Test call-up to the national team for Australia’s tour of South Africa 2002. Former batter and head coach Darren Lehmann also received a call-up for a Test comeback after a wait of three years for the same tour.
It was a significant moment in both players’ careers, but they warmed the bench throughout the three-match series as Australia didn’t change their Playing XI even once.
Interestingly, it required for Watson three more years to be handed a Test debut in 2005. Interestingly, the same had happened at the expense of Lehmann. Watson, who was rated extremely highly among the Australian fraternity, spent three years after his ODI debut to wear the baggy green. He later played 70 international matches across formats (18 Tests, 30 ODIs and 22 T20Is) under Lehmann as a head coach.