Australian opener Ed Cowan believes he is a better player now than he was just over 12 months ago when he scored four consecutive centuries to knock down the door for Test selection.
Cowan has averaged a modest 34.10 in 12 Tests since his debut in last summer's Boxing Day Test, but feels he is not far from more consistent big scores at the top level heading into Thursday's dead-rubber third Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney.
The 30-year-old said he has wasted opportunities to add to the maiden Test century he scored in Brisbane against South Africa in November.
He was disappointed he could not regain his concentration in Melbourne last week after he was involved in a run-out with Phil Hughes. Cowan was dismissed a short time later for 36.
Looking back at his first year in the job, Cowan says the Test caper is harder than it looks but he feels he is learning from mistakes.
"Those four hundreds in a row which capped off being picked last year, I don't think I'm playing any worse now," he said.
"I just think sometimes the game rolls with you a little bit and luck plays its part.
"Looking back at the dismissals, none are really screaming 'you're out of form or technically you're in trouble', so I think that's a good thing.
"It doesn't feel like I don't know where my next run is coming from, it's just a question of getting my head down for a bit longer."
Cowan said he was enjoying the prospect of redemption in the SCG Test, after last year failing against India.
Born and raised in Sydney, Cowan was unwanted by NSW, before moving to Tasmania to build his case for Test selection.
Cowan says he feels at ease in his home town rather than believing he has an axe to grind.
"It was disappointing last year to sit and watch all those runs (SCG centuries by Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey)," he said.
"But at the same time it was a great learning curve as to the hunger required on a good wicket in Sydney and if you do get in to really go big.
"It's just nice to go to your parents' home and have a cup of tea and just a bit of normality and get away from it all."
Australia will hold a light training session on Wednesday morning and captain Michael Clarke is likely to finalise his line-up.
Glenn Maxwell is tipped to make his debut filling the all-rounder boots of the injured Shane Watson (calf), while Mitchell Starc is favoured to come back into the fast bowling rotation at the expense of Jackson Bird.
Another option is to play Johnson as the allrounder over Maxwell and Bird retain his place following an impressive debut last week.
Clarke is thought to be a certain starter despite hamstring trouble.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, sri-lanka First posted January 02, 2013 09:26:05
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