I’m in a fight for my Test spot: Watson

After a five-month layoff battling a calf injury, Watson returns to the international scene in Australia’s Twenty20 clash with South Africa in Adelaide early next month.

Before then, Australia will play two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, with young gun Mitchell Marsh tipped to make his Test debut in the first match beginning on Wednesday.

Marsh has been tipped as a future Australian captain by current skipper Michael Clarke and Watson knows he is one of a handful of up-and-comers putting their hand up for a spot in the Test side.

“I do have a fight on my hands, which is a great thing. It certainly means that no one is going to be complacent,” Watson told reporters at the SCG on Tuesday.

“It is not just me as an allrounder but there are a lot of really talented, really impressive young guys coming through Australian cricket at the moment.

“No one can be complacent whatsoever. Players have to be at their best to be considered to play for Australia and that is an extremely healthy thing for Australian cricket.

“Mitchell Marsh is an impressive young guy and most importantly he is an extremely talented young cricketer as well.

“In some capacity he is going to play a huge part in Australian cricket over his career.”

Watson said he would like to play as much cricket as possible in the lead-up to the T20 internationals and the Test series against India if NSW and Australian selectors believe he is right for the balance of their sides.

Watson averages 36.25 in 52 Tests with four hundreds and 22 fifties.

With the ball, he has taken 69 wickets at 31.95.

The 33-year-old says he still has a strong drive to play Test cricket.

“Test cricket is the ultimate and I still feel I have got a few more things to be able to achieve in Test cricket,” he said.

“Especially individually as well as for us in the Australian team and hopefully my input into that.

“I still have a burning ambition inside of me to be able to perform more consistently in Test cricket and better in Test cricket.

“While that challenge is still there, I am going to be doing everything I can to be playing well to be able to have the opportunity to play Test cricket.

“It is the ultimate challenge of me as a person, as a cricketer.”

Watson has battled injury throughout his career and it is something he continues to be mindful of.

“I understand there’s always challenges there with my body and there has been throughout my career, that is part of keeping me on my toes as well,” he said.

“I never get in front of myself because I know things can be taken away quite quickly.

“But that is the thing that really gets me going as well, the continual improvement to be able to find ways to stay fit and healthy throughout a long stint of cricket.”

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