Watson, the batsman, not a Test certainty: Clarke

Watson is set to make a comeback to international cricket as a batsman in the third ODI against West Indies at Canberra on Wednesday after spending a month on the sidelines due to a calf injury. One of the best allrounders, Watson has decided not to bowl for the time being as it has typically been his bowling that has caused many injury problems for the 31-year-old over the years.

Clarke believes Watson is as good as any player in the world and said his team will help him get back to his best. "I don't think anybody walks into the Australian cricket team. It's about performance, and the strength of Shane is that he's performed over a period of time, in all three forms of the game," Clarke said. "He's vice-captain of the team and it will be great to have Watto back.

"As I've said to Watto, while he's not bowling he goes into a much bigger pool of players ... the pool of batsmen is much bigger than the pool of allrounders. But Shane knows if he's at his best, he's as good as any player in the world, let alone in the Australian team," he added.

Watson has always been plagued by injuries and last summer was no different as he missed all of the 2011-12 home Tests with calf and hamstring problems and managed only three of the six played this season.

On his comeback, Watson knows he can't be a chooser. "At this point in time it is purely as a batsman and wherever I fit in," Watson said of his role in the Test side. "Hopefully I can just get some continuity with my batting over the next few months and then slowly build into getting some bowling under my belt."

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