Starc and Watson struck in the nets

Australia’s preparation for the Boxing Day Test began in dramatic fashion in Melbourne today, with Shane Watson being struck in the head by a James Pattinson bouncer and Mitchell Starc also copping a nasty blow while batting in the MCG nets.

Watson was struck flush on the helmet during the Australians' morning practice session, a Pattinson short ball doing the damage.

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 Bupa Support Team doctor Peter Brukner attended to him.

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

"I had a chat to him - he's a bit shaken, but he's ok," Haddin said.

Watson gathers himself in the nets as Dr Brukner attends // Getty Images

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 changerooms after enquiring after Watson’s well-being.

Watson later skipped the team's public appearance at the MCG for Cricket Austalia's Family Day activities, returning instead to the team hotel.

Watson was playing for New South Wales on November 25 when the 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.

"It's been the most challenging, mentally, couple of days I've had to go through in my career," he said.

"Trying to process everything that happened, especially being there at the SCG.

"Some guys are a bit more affected than others, but every session we were out there you can see everyone starting to gradually find their feet and getting back to what we love doing.

"There's a lot of inner demons we've had to find our way through."

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.

Mitch Starc has been struck a nasty blow in the nets. Will get an update on him shortly pic.twitter.com/UyAxv9ef0o — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 22, 2014

He sat momentarily in the nets as newcomer Joe Burns and coach Darren Lehmann checked on his health, before the NSW quick limped out of the nets, stopping to clutch the problem area before being also being escorted into the changerooms.

"I think he's trying to get out of having to bowl," Haddin joked. "He's all right. He just hit the ball onto the inside of his knee."

Starc is expected to be replaced in the team for the third Test against India starting on 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.

After a fiery second Commonwealth Bank Test in Brisbane that included several heated exchanges between the teams, paceman Mitchell Johnson was keen for hostilities to continue when Australia attempt to clinch victory in the four-Test Border-Gavaskar series at the MCG.

"I hope so - it seemed to work for me last time," Johnson replied when asked if he thought the Indians would target him with sledging once again.

"If they come hard at me again, then that's great but, if they don't, I've just got to keep playing the way that I've been playing."

Opener Chris Rogers returned to much-needed form with two half-centuries at the Gabba and the 37-year-old was delighted to have put a lean spell with the bat behind him.

"It was good to be able to contribute," Rogers said.

"I felt a lot better at the crease and a bit of time out there helps.

"It was a better wicket for me and it was nice to be able to help Australia win."

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