Australia will resist the temptation to rush Shane Watson back for Sunday’s Tri-Series final against England, with the star all-rounder to be carefully managed ahead of the World Cup.
Watson hasn’t played since tweaking his hamstring last week, but he trained strongly at the WACA Ground on Saturday to suggest he is closing in on full fitness.
The 33-year-old shapes as a key cog to Australia’s World Cup title hopes, and stand-in skipper George Bailey said it simply wasn’t worth risking Watson for Sunday’s clash at the WACA Ground.
Instead, Watson is likely to play in World Cup warm-up games against India and the United Arab Emirates.
“Just looking at the volume of stuff, and knowing we’ve got two good hit-outs in the lead-up before that first World Cup game, I don’t think there would be any point in risking him on Sunday, however minimal that risk was,” Bailey said.
“It will just give him a chance to build those overs up again and get the miles in the legs.”
Australia will enter the World Cup featuring three classy all-rounders – Mitch Marsh, James Faulkner and Watson.
Although competition for spots will be fierce, Bailey expects Watson to nail down a starting berth at the showpiece tournament.
“If I was picking it, I would definitely have him in it,” Bailey said.
“He’s a match-winner with both bat and ball.
“He’s played in World Cups before, and we actually don’t have that many blokes who have played in World Cups.
“So he’s one of the first picked in my book.”
Australia will welcome back pace ace Mitchell Johnson for Sunday’s final in Perth, and England’s batsmen could be in for some pain if recent history is anything to go by.
The WACA deck produced some unpredictable bounce during England’s three-wicket win over India on Friday, with some balls kicking up dramatically and others skidding along.
“I heard a couple of balls were a bit nasty, which can happen here,” Bailey said.
“That’s what we like to see at the WACA – a few balls playing up.
“It’s tempting to play all four quicks when you see a wicket like that.”
Johnson terrorised England’s batsmen during the last Ashes series, but Jos Buttler said his team wouldn’t be shying away from the challenge.
“He’s a top bowler and he’s had a brilliant 12 months. But you play the game, not the reputation, so that’s what we’ll be trying to do,” Buttler said.
“If we want to do well, we have to do well against the best.”
Australia and England open their World Cup campaigns against each other at the MCG on February 14.
England batsman James Taylor said a win over Australia on Sunday could give his side an important psychological boost.
