`Struggling` Watson vows to bounce back post Ashes omission

Shane Watson (left) at training with Australian coach Darren Lehmann.

Mitchell Marsh, the man who replaced Watson in the test at Lords has failed to contribute significantly with the bat with scores of 0 and 6 in the third Test.

The age of the two allrounder rivals suggests it is unlikely to be a temporary change.

“To question me on my hunger kills me, it absolutely kills me, because I pride myself on trying to get better every single day”.

“The criticisms of my game at the moment are deserved and I wouldn’t expect anything different, especially as the captain of the team”, he said in a column for Sydney’s Daily Telegraph on Wednesday (August 5).

However, aside from the Anderson injury there is the concern that England have alternated between victory and defeat in their last seven Tests – although if the sequence continues that would mean an English victory at the Kia Oval clinches the Ashes 3-2. He had said in the post-match press conference at Edgbaston in Birmingham, “I think it’s always going to be hard to beat any opposition when they’ve got 11 and we’ve only 10”.

There were few consolations for Australia in the Test, although Mitchell Johnson managed to secure his 300th Test wicket with a fearsome short delivery that dismissed Jonny Bairstow in England’s first innings.

“I know how lucky I have been to be able to have the opportunities I have had”.

Watson was axed after passing 50 in two of his past 16 Test innings.

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh left Watson in no doubt as to why he was omitted.

Watson, a 59-Test veteran, added that he had nothing to be bitter about being dropped and admitted the buck stopped with him.

“Because it was very obvious”.

“There is no denying that the result of the Kia Women’s Test next week will go a long way to determining the overall outcome of this Women’s Ashes contest”.

“I am just disappointed in myself that I wasn’t able to perform well enough to be a part of such an exciting Ashes series“.