Watson's warm-up 'the best I have batted'

Shane Watson believes his World Cup warm-up half-centuries against England and Zimbabwe last week were his greatest efforts for Australia. Watson was "stoked" after striking 55 against England, following on from his 81 three days earlier.

"It's probably the best I have batted in international cricket," he told News Ltd. "I have hit the ball extremely well." The performances continued Watson's hot streak when opening for Australia; in eight ODIs at the top he has passed fifty four times and averages 41.85.

With Matthew Hayden ready to slot back into the line-up alongside Adam Gilchrist, Watson will most likely be bumped down to No. 7 for Australia's title defence. However, Watson is just happy to be part of the action having missed the 2003 World Cup with stress fractures in his back.

"I had only been in the Australian set-up for about a year leading up to that World Cup," he said. "I suppose I took it for granted that I would be at the World Cup because when I started playing it was just on the horizon.

"Now I appreciate it more because it comes around only every four years. I was really making sure I was right fitness-wise for this World Cup because I knew how much it would have meant to not be here."

Watson had an interrupted lead-up to the Caribbean tournament, with persistent hamstring problems ruining his home summer. He was named in the squad for the first Ashes Test in November but had to withdraw and was not fully fit again until the CB Series finals in February.