Pakistan series good prep for World T20: Watson

Watson missed three-match one-day series due to a calf injury sustained on the Australia's tour of England in July.

SHARJAH: Fit-again all rounder Shane Watson hoped a three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan will give a good preparation to his side for next month's World Twenty20.

The 31-year-old joined the Twenty20 squad here after missing the three-match one-day series due to a calf injury sustained on the team's tour of England in July this year.

Pakistan and Australia play the Twenty20 matches in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 11.

Watson believed playing a dangerous Twenty20 side like Pakistan will give good preparations to Australia, who are ranked ninth in the shortest form of the game.

"These matches are very important and will give us a good lead to the World Twenty20," said Watson of the event starting in Sri Lanka next month. "We haven't really had a long time together as a Twenty20 team so it will be good playing Pakistan."

Australia were the losing semi-finalist of the first World Twenty20 in 2007 before they were thrown out of the second edition in the first round in England two years later.

They lost to England in the 2010 event final held in the West Indies.

"We have played well in Twenty20 and were unlucky on missing out on the final the last time. This team has got good balance of young and experience and on our day we can beat the best teams in the world," said Watson.

Australia earlier this year appointed George Bailey as their Twenty20 captain. They are placed in Group B of the 12-team World Twenty20, alongside the West Indies and Ireland.

Watson hoped all players will get to know their roles in the team.

"These three matches (against Pakistan) will be challenging and it's going to be a great period for us to continue to know what exactly are our roles in Twenty20," said Watson who has so far scored 643 runs in 27 Twenty20 matches.

He also has 21 wickets as a medium pacer.

Watson admitted Pakistani spinners and oppressive heat in United Arab Emirates will be a big challenge.

"The heat is always there, you play throughout the year so heat is part and parcel for both the sides," said Watson. "Pakistan have got high class spinners with (Saeed) Ajmal and (Shahid) Afridi and they can certainly change the game.”

"In Twenty20 cricket you don't have much chance to be able to work the ball, when the ball is turning a score of 130 140 is good. There is no doubt they are good spinners but we will work hard," said Watson.

"It (UAE) is a great place to play cricket and I am excited and at times these are similar conditions we get in Sri Lanka as it gives us a good chance to combine as a team and understand our roles," said Watson.