Shane Watson hungry to return to form against New Zealand

Shane Watson hopes to return back to form against New Zealand

Auckland, February 25 (IANS) Australia’s underperforming batsman Shane Watson has said that he feels like ending a run drought when Australia take on New Zealand in the World Cup Group A game at the Eden Park here on Saturday. He admits it is time for him to score some runs and feels his technique is sound, knows he is putting in the work and senses he is hitting the ball well.

Watson’s number 3 position might be in doubt, after Mitchell Marsh’s good run of form and James Faulkner’s return to fitness holds advantage over his poor form. He said that,

"It's crunch time for me to score runs in general, It's important for me to score runs anytime. It's up to the selectors in the end, whether they see fit for me to play. But I'm doing everything I possibly can.”

"I've been in and around a number of World Cup campaigns. I know what to expect and I know it doesn't always go exactly to plan as well."

Prior to his golden duck in the opening game for Australia against England, Watson has been sidelined with hamstring niggle and missed the majority of recently concluded ODI tri-series. He denied feeling any additional selection pressure when the three-time champions face the Kiwis on Saturday.

"I just want to score runs and I want to perform. That's really what it is," Watson said. “That's what I'm working extremely hard on. I do feel it's coming along well, I just haven't scored runs.”

"I actually feel like I'm hitting the ball well. I just need to give myself a chance to get in some innings and get things rolling. It's a constant thing ... I'm always looking at how to get better and making adjustments, it's a constant thing every day to try and get better,” he said.