Veteran allrounder Shane Watson says he’s only got himself to blame for his World Cup axing, and his spot at No.3 in the Test team could also be gobbled up in the near future.
Watson was forced to make way for the returning James Faulkner when Australia scored a 275-run win over Afghanistan, and he faces an uphill battle to break back into the side for Sunday’s crunch clash with Sri Lanka at the SCG.
The 33-year-old has averaged just 22.3 from his past 11 ODI innings, and his form in the Test arena has also been patchy.
With Faulkner and Mitch Marsh now favoured as Australia’s premier ODI allrounders, Watson may need to rely on injuries or poor form in order to win back his spot.
But he’s not giving up hope, especially with the World Cup knockout stage just around the corner.
“I believe in myself and my own abilities. If an opportunity comes along, I’ll be ready to go,” Watson said before he flew from Perth to Sydney on Thursday.
“I know I haven’t scored enough runs, so I’ve only got myself to blame. That’s the way it goes.
“There are things I’ve made adjustments on even before I got dropped to try to improve and give myself a better chance to score runs and perform.
“I’m always trying to get better and learn, so that’s all I can do.”
Former Test paceman Stuart Clark believes Watson’s future in all formats is now in jeopardy.
“The reality is, what do you do with Shane Watson now? Can you bring him back into the team?” Clark told Fox Sports.
“Because the other argument is, ‘Why are we bringing back a 33-year-old?’
“I don’t want to say it’s the end for Shane Watson, but it’s going to be very difficult, and he’s going to have to continuously get runs in first-class cricket to work his way back in.”
Steve Smith has enjoyed remarkable success when replacing Watson at No.3 in ODIs, and he continued that hot form with 95 against Afghanistan.
The 25-year-old says he would also be willing to take on the responsibility of batting at No.3 in the Test team – a position Watson has filled in recent times.
“It was obviously disappointing for Watto to miss out, but hopefully I can continue my form up there,” Smith said.
“I enjoy batting with the guys at the top. It allows me to get into my innings and play the ball as I see it, and I don’t have to rush or anything like that.”
Marsh looked proppy during his three-over spell against Afghanistan.
But skipper Michael Clarke said it was nothing more than an issue with Marsh’s boot rather than a flare-up of his troublesome hamstrings.
“I asked him if he was all right and he said, ‘I’m completely fine’,” Clarke said.
Sunday’s match against Sri Lanka is set to decide who finishes second in Pool A.
Should Australia lose that match and finish third, they could be thrust into a quarter-final against arch rivals South Africa, and an away semi-final against NZ.
Steve Smith’s scores when batting at No.3 in ODIs
*36 v South Africa in Harare, 2014
*10 v South Africa in Harare, 2014
*101 v Pakistan in Sharjah, 2014
*12 v Pakistan in Dubai, 2014
*77 v Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, 2014
*102no v England in Hobart, 2015
*40 v England in Perth, 2015
*95 v Afghanistan in Perth, 2015
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