Shane Watson has buried his Mohali demons and with a more positive mindset has taken ownership of the No.3 position.
Seven months ago Watson infamously walked out on the Test team when he was suspended for disciplinary reasons, which led to him questioning his future in the international game.
But he returns for Saturday’s third one-day clash, with the series level at one apiece, in a clearer frame of mind according to skipper George Bailey.
Watson was one of four players punished over ‘homeworkgate’, with Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson also left out of the third Test for failing to complete a written assignment. Australia lost the Test match by six wickets in a disastrous tour which finished in a 4-0 drubbing.
Watson returned from Australia, where he was present for the birth of his first child, to captain the fourth Test which Michael Clarke missed with a back injury.
“I reckon he is (in a better frame of mind now),” Bailey said on Friday.
“I feel like that’s a long way in the past now.
“I think that’s probably been dealt with and spoken about a lot.
“I’m sure he’s certainly moved on. It feels like a long time ago.”
Watson has played the bulk of his Test and one-day cricket as an opener, averaging 45.14 at the top of the order in the 50-over format.
He’s played just 15 games batting at first drop, averaging 32.73, but hit a rapid-fire 59 in the stunning loss at Jaipur in game two – giving Bailey the confidence he’s settled into the role.
“Certainly at the moment it’s working really well for us. I don’t see much reason to change,” Bailey said.
“His versatility there in terms of how well he plays spin (is valuable).
“I think the way he came out the other day and just the impetus he provided for the innings, how he put the Indian spinners on the back foot – that’s really important for us.
“If he can bat at three and get into that middle order a bit for us, that’s pretty handy.”
Mohali hasn’t always been a bad place for Watson, he scored his second Test century at the ground in 2010.
Meanwhile, Bailey confirmed fast-bowling allrounder Nathan Coulter-Nile is being considered for the Mohali match – though he wasn’t ready to name a team just yet.
When asked if there was a chance Coulter-Nile could force his way into the side, Bailey replied:
“There is. But personally I’d like to back the group we have.
“I think in the first game they were outstanding. I think they give great variation.
“We’ve got left-armers, right-armers, different paces, different skill sets.
“I don’t think one game where the Indian batters got on top of them warrants a change necessarily.
“I’d like to back them in and give them a chance to prove they can get on top of the batting lineup.”