Shane Watson arrived in India last month saying he wouldn’t bowl in the four-Test series because of injury problems but he was determined to prove his worth with the bat.

“There has been a lot that’s been mentioned over the last six months on whether I warrant a position in the side as a batsman, if I’m not bowling,” he said.

“(I want) to be able to prove to the selectors and to the people who at times maybe don’t think that I’m one of the top six batsmen in Australia, to prove that I am that, that I can get picked as a batsman.”

Watson’s paltry return of 99 runs at 16.50 in three matches in the series on India’s turning pitches places him 14th on Australia’s batting averages for the four-Test tour.

The stand-in skipper trails tailenders such as James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty and Mitchell Starc.

Only allrounder Glenn Maxwell and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson rank below Watson’s 16.50.

The two-time Allan Border Medallist is planning to work on his bowling fitness in the upcoming Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament in April-May with a view to bowling in the Ashes in July.

And don’t Australia need him back at the bowling crease as a fifth option with the ball – especially if he’s not pulling his weight with the bat.

The 31-year-old Watson’s career average has dropped from 41.55 at the start of 2011 to 35.34 in 41 matches.