Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has admitted that he does not deserve to play in the Australian Test squad unless he is able to bowl along with batting in every match.
A five-over spell in training in Cape Town on Thursday at match-like intensity is the last hurdle Watson needs to clear before beginning his new role - adopted by selectors since he missed the first two Tests in South Africa with a calf injury - in the series decider against South Africa starting on Saturday.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Watson emerged unscathed after bowled at about 95 per cent intensity when the squad last trained on Monday, meaning that he is hopeful of facing the hosts at Newlands.
However, Watson said that he had not felt slighted by the new selection policy that involved him only being considered for Test selection if he could provide the team with an additional seam-bowling option, saying that he does not warrant a spot as a batsman at this point in time if he cannot help the team as an all-rounder.
Stating that he has not been consistent as needed in Test cricket, Watson also said that he is aware of where he is at in his position as a specialist batsman, adding that the new policy is beneficial for him as it meant injuries that prevented him bowling could be given time to heal.
The report mentioned that had Watson not been injured for the start of the Test series, the unofficial plan was for him to bat at No.6, theoretically in the hope it would allow him to bowl more overs and bowl later in innings, rather than have to be preserved because he would soon be batting.