India was lowest point of my career - Watson

Shane Watson is eager to move forward from the debacles Australia faced in India, with back-to-back Ashes series due to begin later this summer. During the series, which ended in a 0-4 series defeat, the team management axed four players, including Watson, who was vice-captain at the time, after the second Test for failing to complete a task set by coach Mickey Arthur.

"Whatever happened throughout India, certainly for me personally, was the lowest point in my cricket career, there's no doubt about that." he said. "The decisions that were made were made for a reason and we certainly have to move forward as a team because we've got two series back-to-back of the biggest cricket we'll ever play."

Australia are chasing the urn after England steamrolled Australia in their own backyard with a 3-1 scoreline, all three wins coming without England needing to bat a second time. They now face England in England.

"We've got a lot of big cricket coming up so we've got to put all the things that happened to us in India behind us." he said. "We've got to find ways to get the best out of ourselves as individuals and as a team. If we don't, then it could be a long 10 months but if we're able to bring it together then we could have a lot of fun."

Watson was clear in stating the controversial episode ahead of Australia's last chance to save the series in India could have been avoided.

"If I had handed in my homework then I would have avoided it, that's probably as simple as it was. I look back and I certainly would have done that and I wouldn't have been in the situation that I was." he said. "There were certainly periods of time that things had been building up unbeknown to me, things that were really affecting certain people in the group but we've had to move because we've got so much big cricket coming up and it's a dream to be part of back-to-back Ashes series.

"Whatever's happened is certainly in the past. For me to be a part of hopefully this next little while of cricket continues to fuel my dream and also continue to realise the privilege I do have to play cricket for my country."

Watson also ruled out any interest in captaining Australia in the Ashes. "At this point in time, absolutely not." he said "I stepped down as vice-captain for a number of different reasons but at this point in time, it was certainly the best thing for the team. I'm just here to get the best out of myself and help as much as I always do anyway."