Cricket: Watson claims he was baited by Gayle

Shane Watson isn’t embarrassed by his over-the-top celebration after dismissing Chris Gayle. Photo / Getty images

MELBOURNE - Australian allrounder Shane Watson says he's not embarrassed about his over-the-top antics when he dismissed Chris Gayle in Perth, as he claims he was provoked by the West Indies skipper.

Watson was fined 15 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council for the way he celebrated dismissing Gayle on day four in the third test at the WACA Ground.

His actions, and the fines imposed on Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin for their run-in with Windies spinner Sulieman Benn, prompted Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to promise to address his side's on-field behaviour this week ahead of the first test against Pakistan starting on Boxing Day.

Watson admitted he went too far in his widely condemned celebrations, but said Gayle had baited him before he came on to bowl.

"There was a bit of build up to it, so it's always nice to get Chris Gayle out, he's obviously one of the most devastating batsmen in the world at the moment," Watson said today.

"He definitely let me know that he was keen for me to come on to bowl leading up to that, so it was very nice to get him out first ball.

"That was the catalyst for me celebrating the way I did ... I know there's a line and I was extremely happy to get him out, I normally don't celebrate to that extent when I get someone out.

"But when he baits me, talking about wanting me to come on to bowl to be able to take me down, it's always very nice to get the upper hand."

Watson admitted the celebration was over the top, but said he was not embarrassed because his actions were based on "raw emotion".

Former test paceman Geoff Lawson yesterday likened Watson's in-your-face celebration to "a four-year-old jumping up and down having a tantrum" and insisted he'd been embarrassed to look back on it in years to come.

- AAP