Watson ecstatic to be last man standing

Shane Watson has been ruled out of tours so often that even he finds it hard to believe he's still in India with the Australian side. The squad, which won the series on Sunday, has suffered a horror run with injuries but Watson has stayed fit and been a key figure in the victory, scoring 256 runs and taking 10 wickets in the opening six games.

"Normally I'd be one of the first ones sent home in the previous couple of years," Watson said in the Courier Mail. "It's obviously very disappointing for everyone who does get injured because I know exactly what they're going through, but it is good to be one of the last men standing as well.

"I know the things I've been doing over the last couple of years have given me the opportunity to be where I am now. So it's nice to know that I'm continuing to get through cricket, and play some good cricket."

Watson received a visit from his the physiotherapist Victor Popov earlier in the trip and he sorted out a niggle that allowed him to bowl better. He has played in every game of the series, which finishes in Mumbai on Wednesday, and is proud of the team's fighting performance.

"There's a lot of pride in everyone's face at the moment because it is a big thing we've been able to achieve," he said. "There's no doubt it is a very special moment because there's a lot of new faces in there and for everyone to come together the way we have is just an awesome achievement."

Individually, he has developed his batting to the point where he can now dominate bowlers. His work with the ball has also been effective and he has been handed some tough assignments at the end of the innings.

"My batting has continued to develop, even better than I thought it would," he said. "It is very satisfying for my bowling to come along in the way it has throughout the one-dayers in England and then the Champions Trophy and here. I know the work I have put in is all worth it when I can put good performances with bat and ball together throughout a couple of series in a row."