The Ashes 2015: Shane Watson to be given full run out in final tour match in bid to find bowling rhythm

SHANE Watson, rested from bowling against Kent, will play at full capacity in Australia’s final warm-up as he tries to find rhythm for the first Ashes Test.

Australian Cricket Team Ashes Portrait Session

UPDATE : ‘Sore points’ have ruled Shane Watson out of bowling in Australia’s opening tour match, but he is expected to play at full capacity in the final hit-out against Essex as he desperately tries to find rhythm heading into the first Ashes Test.

Watson rolled the arm over in the nets before play on Saturday in Canterbury, and his resting is just a precaution at this stage.

But the squeeze is well and truly on the all-rounder to bounce back in quick time, given he no longer commands to be picked as a specialist top six batsman in a Test match.

Eyebrows were raised in Canterbury on Friday when younger all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was thrown the ball first and bowled six overs against Kent, while Watson remained permanently stationed at first slip.

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The last time this happened was in the World Cup clash against New Zealand at Eden Park, and sure enough, the very next game against Afghanistan — Watson was dropped from the side under extraordinary circumstances, with Marsh given a chance to establish himself.

Shane Watson pulled up sore after contributing to a series win in West Indies.

It was Watson’s failures with the bat that resulted in selectors dropping the mid-tournament bombshell, however it was suggested by some that him not bowling in the previous match was in hindsight a pointer to his imminent demise.

It’s a different set of circumstances in England less than two weeks out from the first Ashes Test — although in many ways it’s groundhog day again for the 34-year-old.

Watson pulled up with sore bits from the tour of the West Indies — despite bowling just 14 overs across two Test matches — and medical staff decided he should be eased back into full duties.

But even more concerning than Watson’s perennial body battles — which he has managed effectively in the past couple of years — is his lack of convincing form.

Despite ultimately finishing the World Cup in triumph as one of Australia’s heroes, Watson’s recent output in Test matches has been mediocre.

He hasn’t made a hundred since November 2013 and has averaged under 30 in his past two series against the Windies and India.

Watson’s incredible renaissance in the World Cup boosted his hopes of keeping his career alive, but the fact is he still needs to prove he can lift in the big moments in Test cricket as well.

The big Queenslander was out for 21 in the first innings against Kent, but Marsh failed to seize an opportunity to outshine him when he was bowled for 30.

It means Watson remains in the box seat to start the Ashes series as Australia’s all-rounder, although the warning signs are there that the end of his international career may not be far away.

Selectors might have bungled his dropping and recall in the World Cup, but the fact they were justifiably prepared to axe him in the first place showed they won’t be afraid to make the tough decision when the time comes.

All they need is for young bull Marsh to put his hand up.

Watson is in the Test side to provide balance, but of late he’s barely been called on to contribute with the ball.

The final tour match against Essex could shape as critical in Watson’s immediate future, as he continues his career-long journey of trying to prove he can fulfil his enormous potential with both bat and ball.

Originally published as The Ashes 2015: Shane Watson to be given full run out in final tour match in bid to find bowling rhythm