Watson desperate for maiden ton

Shane Watson desperately craves a Test century and hopes he can sign off as an Ashes opener in style at The Oval next week. In his first three innings as a substitute Watson has scored 62, 53 and 51, adapting quickly to the role after a surprise promotion when Phillip Hughes was dropped before the game at Edgbaston.

Watson, 28, will prepare over the next week for the biggest match of his life as Australia try to hold off England and retain the Ashes in south London from August 20. "I wouldn't say it has been easy but it has been a lot of fun to take on the new ball," Watson said before the team left Leeds for Canterbury and a two-day game against England Lions this weekend. "I have really enjoyed the challenge of taking on the fresh English bowlers and hopefully I can turn one of my fifties into a bigger one."

He said the sudden switch from the middle order - his previous highest spot in eight matches was No. 6 - had helped his game and contributed to his immediate success. "Being able to have another crack at Test cricket in a different light, opening the batting, has been a good test," he said. "It has been different but different in a good way. The nervous energy you have - you normally waste a bit batting four, five and six, waiting to go into bat - can be used up going straight out there and being on the ball straight away."

The only problems he has had since coming back into the side have been converting those impressive starts, some loose bowling, and speaking a bit too freely about the prospects of Brett Lee last week in Leeds. The men are good friends but Watson tipped Lee's exclusion for the fourth Test at Headingley two days before the toss because Australia's fastest bowler was not match fit.

Lee had been cleared after a side strain but the selectors wanted to see him get through a game before picking him for such an important contest. "We talked about that afterwards," Watson said. "What I had been told from the Australian hierarchy had been that he was physically and medically fit, but not match fit. So I am sure he is really looking forward to getting out in this tour match [against the England Lions] and it will all [be] behind us."

Watson wants to play alongside Lee in Canterbury, but it is unlikely that the fast man will be able to earn a spot in the XI for The Oval. Andrew Hilditch and his selectors have faith in the trio of Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle, while Stuart Clark performed strongly in the first innings in Leeds.

At least two of the main bowlers will be rested over the weekend and Watson is hoping to receive some work after not being used in the fourth Test and delivering a short spell at Edgbaston. "Those three overs were pretty dreadful," he said. When Watson was first considered for the Test team he was a bowler who could contribute runs, but on this trip his role has been inverted.