Shane Watson shaken up after being hit in head by bouncer at Aussie training

Shane Watson has been left shaken and visibly distressed after being struck in the helmet while training for Australia ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

The all rounder was batting in the nets when he was hit by a bouncer from paceman James Pattinson.

Watson, who witnessed Phillip Hughes being fatally struck at the SCG, left the nets immediately.

"He took his helmet off and basically sat there with his head in his hands for a little while," Nine report Mark Macgugan said.

"The doctor came over and chatted to him for a while.

"I'm pretty sure he was ok, but he looked pretty shaken up by it."

The incident comes as Watson faces mounting pressure to reverse a worrying form slump, alongside fellow veteran Brad Haddin.

No.3 batsman Watson has a highest score of just 33 in the Test series against India and again failed to go on after getting a start in the first innings at the Gabba then was out for a duck in the second.

Veteran wicketkeeper Haddin has made just 66 runs in his past eight innings.