Shane Watson's form puts pressure on Test top order

SHANE Watson walked a diplomatic tightrope yesterday, managing barely to hide his desire to tip incumbent Test opener Ed Cowan from the post.

SHANE Watson walked a diplomatic tightrope yesterday, managing barely to hide his desire to tip incumbent Test opener Ed Cowan from the post.

As Watson prepared to captain Australia in this afternoon's one-day international against the West Indies at the MCG, his spectacular form at the top of the order after returning from a leg injury has put enormous pressure on Cowan.

Watson made 76 on Friday night, two days after a blistering century in Canberra.

Cowan, meanwhile, is preparing in India for a two-day match this week after a disappointing Test series against Sri Lanka.

Watson, who will lead Australia today with regular skipper Michael Clarke being ultra cautious in resting his hamstring, said he'd bat anywhere he was asked by selectors and coach Mickey Arthur when he arrives in India this week for the four-Test tour.

But in the same breath, he was adamant opening remained his preference, especially while in the team as a specialist batsman.

"I certainly do love opening and I've had my most success there in Test cricket especially, but I also know how important it is to get the balance of the batting order exactly right as well," Watson said.

"In the end I'm just content to fulfil a role wherever I can.

"I'm not here to put extra pressure on Ed, at all, because I know he wants to be doing the best job he can.

"The reason why I got moved down the order is mainly to do with my bowling . . . but moving forward, I really don't want my bowling to be able to get in the way of my batting."

Watson, who averages 43.7 in 24 Tests as an opener and 25.2 in 14 matches in other slots, said opening was where he felt "most comfortable".

"There's no doubt about that. I do love taking on the quick bowlers with the brand new ball and challenging myself . . . and that's what really gets me up and gets me going.

"And probably because that's my experience of the most success I've had . . . in Test cricket especially.

"Like anything, if you've got good memories of something you want to try to replicate that.

"I haven't been that consistent with my Test batting at all, and a lot of the time it seems to be coming back from injury and trying to find my feet in Test cricket.

"I want to be in the position where I can be in form going into a Test series and hopefully hold it."