Watson wants to open in ODIs

Shane Watson is tipped to replace Simon Katich for Australia's first Champions Trophy match against West Indies on Wednesday. Watson opened in both of the team's practice games over the past four days and is expected to link up with Adam Gilchrist as the selectors run another pre-World Cup trial at the top of the order.

"I really enjoy it up there and I've been able to improve my batting as well through getting more of an opportunity all the time," Watson told The Australian. "Before, batting at seven and eight, I wouldn't get that much opportunity."

Watson first opened the batting for Australia against India in the third match of the DLF Cup in Malaysia and scored a 74-ball 79. In the Australians' Champions Trophy warm-up match against Maharashtra on Thursday Watson pleased the selectors by providing the initial momentum with an attacking 70, with 40 of those runs scored through boundaries.

"Not too much has been said yet, apart from me having opportunities in practice matches, so hopefully I'll get the opportunity," he said. "I've felt I've been doing a pretty good job at the top of the order. I suppose my technique's built for opening the batting a bit more. Batting three for Tasmania a couple of years ago, that was where I really developed a game against the new ball."

The choice is now between Simon Katich, the anchorman who provides stability against Gilchrist's frenetic attacking style, and Watson. "It [slogging] has never really been my game, but you've got to take the opportunities that are there," he said. "For the last four or five years that's been my role, to come in at seven and eight and to bowl."

John Buchanan, the Australia coach, said Katich was not yet out of the calculations. "Out of Malaysia, I think they were reasonably impressed with Shane," Buchanan told The Age. "He had another opportunity here to impress his claims and he took that opportunity," Buchanan said of Watson's effort against Maharashtra.

Buchanan said Katich had done most of what was asked of him and that things were exteremely hard for him. "From Simon's point of view, it's extremely difficult personally, I guess, and therefore cricket-wise to actually be in the side and then not," he said. "I know everybody feels for him in that regard. Simon copes with everything exceptionally well. He's hurting deeply on the inside but will never project anything on the outside."

Meanwhile, Andrew Symonds has said there is plenty of competition for him in terms of bowling in one-day games. "Ricky [Ponting] spoke to me about bowling a lot more [in India]," Symonds, who has 116 wickets from 149 matches, told the Times of India. "Pup's [Michael Clarke] giving me plenty of competition. Hoggy [Brag Hogg] too has been bowling well over the last year. I heard that dew may not be a factor in Mumbai compared to other centres."