Shane Watson has gone from fringe Test candidate to one of the most important cricketers in the country within a month.

Having scored three half-centuries in the recent Ashes series, which Australia lost 2-1, Watson has taken on the mantle of a genuine Test opener, replacing batting tyro Phillip Hughes in the process.

He has already mapped out a future plan that culminates in him leading the Australian batting card in the return series four years from now.

"Absolutely," said Watson. "There's no doubt there will be a big series in Australia again, to win back the Ashes. But the true test is playing the English in their conditions, in their country, that would be amazing to be able to win an Ashes series here after the heartbreak of losing this series. It would be great to get the revenge in 2013," he tells the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

Watson has only played 11 Tests in the last six years. He has had 12 major injury problems in the past six years.

The man himself thought his Ashes chances were finished.

"My goals were, before I came here, to hopefully get a spot in the team maybe batting at No.6 ... Marcus North was the guy that I was comparing myself to, but he started his Test career with an absolute bang so there was no way I was going to come in instead of him when he'd scored so many runs," Watson says.

"At the start of the tour I had a bit of a niggle as well [thigh muscle tear] so at that stage I thought it was just going to be me being part of the group and helping out as much as I could, and preparing for the one-day series."

... contd.