Shane Watson becomes a father

Sydney - Australian cricket team vice-captain Shane Watson, who left the tour of India mid-way, became a father Thursday after his wife Lee gave birth to a baby boy.

Lee gave birth to the baby boy, Will, here early morning, reports The Age.

Watson left for Sydney Monday to be with his wife. Watson, 31, James Pattisnon, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were sidelined controversially from the third cricket Test in Mohali for breach of discipline.

Soon after the punishment was announced, Watson left for Sydney. But before rushing to the Chandigarh airport, the 31-year-old Watson made his displeasure clear and said he was weighing his Test future.

The Watson couple were expecting their first child later this month, and Watson was scheduled to skip the fourth Test in Delhi from March 22. He is now expected to return to India for the final Test of the series.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke has also suggested that he wants his deputy back at the earliest.