In-form Test opener Ed Cowan says Australian selectors must find a place for a fit-again Shane Watson in the upcoming Tour of the West Indies but is determined to make sure it will not be at his expense.
Cowan has made a solid fist of his call-up to the national team, scoring 166 runs at 41.5 in three matches against India, including 74 in last week's demolition in Perth that handed Australia a 3-0 series lead.
With Watson in line to make his long-awaited return from injury for the Sydney Sixers in Sunday's Big Bash League semi-final, selectors will have to weigh up how - or if - he will be used in the West Indies in March-April.
And while Cowan continues to earn plaudits for his promising opening partnership with David Warner, the 29-year-old believes he needs a strong performance in next week's fourth and final Test, starting in Adelaide on Tuesday, to consolidate his spot.
"He (Watson) is probably the best player in the country so they certainly do have to fit him in," Cowan told reporters in Sydney this morning.
"It's no different to any other team, when guys are coming back you've got to hold your place in the team through weight of runs.
"How I see my job is to make it so difficult for the selectors, that Shane Watson has to bat somewhere else in the batting order.
"That's simply done by me going out and making runs and the rest takes care of itself.
"If they're having a discussion 'should Shane Watson be opening the batting' then I'm not doing my job."
Cowan gave himself a "pass mark" for his performances so far in his first Test series.
"Two 50s in three games... that's OK, that's a pass, but it's not brilliant," he said.
"That's why there's excitement for this Test as well, to really cement that spot and make that a really difficult conversation for the tour of the West Indies."
Cowan insisted Australia were not lacking in motivation for the fourth Test, despite having the series wrapped up.
"It's exciting that we're on the verge of something special as a team," he said.
"Four-nil would be an absolute drubbing of the second best team in the world."
AAP/ABC
Tags: cricket, sport, australia First posted January 20, 2012 12:03:57
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