Shane Watson hits back at Wood’s bouncer taunt

With just over a week until the first Test starts in Cardiff, Wood, in a BBC radio interview broadcast Sunday, recalled how he was instructed to bowl bouncers at Watson by the all-rounder’s then Australia team-mate Michael Hussey during a net session on the 2009 tour of England.

The Durham paceman, who took nine wickets in the recent two-Test series against New Zealand after making his debut at Lord’s, said Watson had dismissively labelled him a “net hero” and said he “would love to have a go at me”.

Wood, set to feature in England’s side at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens when the first Test gets underway on July 8, added: “Well, he’s got his chance now. Let’s hope he remembers because he is going to get a few more bumpers.”

For the 34-year-old <g data-gr-id="42">Watson</g> it was all ancient history.

“Up until this morning I couldn’t remember it all,” Watson said. “It was quite some time ago and I’ve had quite a few net sessions since then. So it’s not something that really stands out.

“I’ve seen what he (Wood) has been able to do against New Zealand and how he bowls. If I manage to score a few runs in this next tour match with Essex, he might have the chance to have another go at me in the Tests.

“It will be interesting to see how he bats because we have a couple of guys who bowl at <g data-gr-id="46">decent</g> pace as well who bowl fast bouncers!

“He’s obviously got a lot of confidence and is sure about himself. If he’s talking about all this stuff it means he is certainly up for the challenge. He hasn’t been involved in an Ashes series before so he will be tested like we all are.” Watson was just as bullish about Australia’s bid to end a 14-year wait to win an Ashes series in Britain, having thrashed arch-rivals England 5-0 ‘Down Under’ as recently as 2013/14.

“We are confident we can expose this England team as we did in Australia,” he said. 

“We’ve not won a series here since 2001 and it’s a burning ambition to put that record straight. It’s too long for Australians because I guess we get used to winning the big ones.

“Seeing England raising the urn at the Oval on the last two occasions certainly burns very deeply in me and the other guys.” However, Watson must earn the right to face England in Cardiff. He proved his form with the bat in the warm-up 255-run win over Kent in Canterbury but did not bowl because of soreness and so allowed Mitchell Marsh to steal a march on him in the battle for the position within the Test <g data-gr-id="40">side</g> of <g data-gr-id="41"><g data-gr-id="43">seam-bowling</g></g> all-rounder.