Shane Watson's place looks shaky for Lord's Test

Shane Watson has been in poor form lately

The job of Australia’s selectors is cut out – they have to consider the position of Shane Watson and consider Peter Siddle in place of Mitchell Starc. Captain Micheal Clarke, who said that his side needed to treat their 169-run loss at the hands of England the same way they handled their loss to New Zealand during the World Cup campaign, admitted that Watson's performance was worrying, as he fell twice lbw for 30 and 19.

It was a sad moment for Australia when Watson got dismissed by Mark Wood, and a referral was made mainly because he was the last man standing in the specialist batsman’s bracket. The appeal was greeted by cheers, but he was sent off. Watson looked sad as he left the ground, and there are serious doubts about whether he will be able to keep his place for the Lord’s Test.

"He's been a very important senior player and all-round player," Clarke said, supporting Watson, according to ESPNcricinfo.

"Someone who can bat and bowl is always a great weapon to have in your team. Watto, like the rest of us, I'm sure the selectors will sit down and talk about each individual player as they do after every game. We obviously didn't perform anywhere near as well as we want to or need to, to have success here.

"Shane is an extremely hard worker, he wants to have success like the rest of it. I think it's the hardest part of this game - the longer you play the more ups and downs you go through. Through the good times you've got to try and ride that wave for as long as possible because you know the longer you player there's the other side as well.

"When things aren't going to plan you've got to stick to your processes, work hard, cop a few smacks on the chin and keep backing your own ability. I think that's exactly what Watto is doing. He's been a big part of the Australian cricket team in all three formats and has had a lot of success as well in all three formats."

Positive was that Starc still managed to pick wickets: Clarke

On the first day, Starc had to take pain killers for his ankle problem to be able to bowl. Though this does indicate that he is completely excluded from consideration for the second Test, Siddle has clearly been a much better bowler.

"I think the positive is the fact that he was able to bowl in that second innings and still pick up wickets," Clarke said. "He just walked out and batted and ran between the wickets fine. The concern is obviously how close the second Test match is away but the medical team and the selectors will assess Starcy over the next few days and they'll make whatever they feel is the best decision for the team”.

Clarke hopes to turn around this loss just as they turned around the devastating loss against New Zealand.

I certainly didn't come here expecting to lose, that's for sure," he said. "I think you have to respect and credit England with the way they played. From ball one I thought their performance with the bat in the first innings set the game up for them. I think their discipline with their execution on that wicket with the ball and then they held onto their chances - it's a good way to set up a victory.

"If you're doing those three things pretty well you're generally winning a lot of Test matches. We need to improve in all three areas and I look forward to Lord's. I don't want us to change the way we play. I like each individual player backing themselves and playing the way we have done over the past few years which has given us success.

"The advantage and the positive for us is we're only four days away from the second Test. I think that's a good thing for this team. All the boys now, like losing to New Zealand in the World Cup gave us a bit of a kick up the backside, they'll probably see this game very similar. This gives us a bit of a kick up the backside and we look forward to this second Test match."

It seems Watson and Starke are not the only ones having a bad time. Brad Haddin too did not play very well, dropping Joe Root and being caught by the England captain. But it is unlikely that Haddin will have to sit out, unlike the others.