We’ll defy critics and step up for Ashes, says Watson

SYDNEY - Shane Watson has described his achievement in winning over many of his critics as “satisfying” and credits his consistency and match-winning performances for it. He also said that this would be the approach of the Australian team when it takes on England in the Ashes series from November 25.

“Everyone handles [the scrutiny] very differently; everyone is a different beast,” Watson told The Sun-Herald.

“In the end, for me, I broke it down [to] what it is really - it’s a skill worrying about what is in front of you and not allowing things to get too clouded. I’m not surprised by the scrutiny, the Ashes is a big series, but in the end all the talk that has accompanied the lead-up to the first Test will be insignificant once the first ball is bowled,” he added.

“There’s a difference in the intensity you experience in a Test match [to the Sheffield Shield],” he said.

He said: “One is the crowd, because that adds an intensity to the game, as does the quality of the opposition [like England]. It is very different.”

After his five-wicket haul against Tasmania at the SCG - which included Test skipper Ricky Ponting for 27 - in conditions like those of Brisbane, Watson said he would ask Ponting if he could bowl as much as possible. (ANI)