'Hurt' Watson proving his worth by AFP

Event:

DateLine: 23rd April 2007

Shane Watson has admitted to being hurt by criticism from the likes of former Australia captain Bobby Simpson but a desire to prove his doubters wrong has inspired the all-rounder to nail down a place in the champions World Cup side.

When the injury-prone Queenslander was out for three games with a calf muscle injury in the Caribbean many wondered what he was doing in a team that continued to win comfortably without him.

But his usefulness was on show for all to see with a dynamic 65 not out off just 32 balls in Friday's 215-run thrashing of New Zealand in Grenada.

Watson, who'd spent months working on his batting with Australia assistant coach Jamie Siddons, showed plenty of invention be it stepping across to the off-side to turn the ball over short fine leg or carving over the covers as he did to take Australia to 348 for six off the last ball of the innings.

"It has hurt at times," Watson said of the criticism. "It's human nature.. you can take it to heart.

"In the end all I have tried to do is be my best and I've tried to work extremely hard on my game to continue to improve. Having people doubt your ability and then to be able to put it together in a World Cup is truly satisfying for myself more than anything.

In an article for Indian magazine SportsStar two months ago, Simpson branded Watson as merely a "competent" cricketer.

"I have doubts if he has the skills or flexibility to cope with cricket at the highest level," former opening batsman Simpson, Australia's 1987 World Cup-winning coach, wrote.

"He looks like an over-coached player, lacking in natural skills and movements. Perhaps this is one reason why he has had so many injuries."

But Australia captain Ricky Ponting, speaking after Friday's match, said the sight of Watson striking four sixes and four fours before taking one for 20 with his brisk medium-pace, ought to make the all-rounder's critics reflect.

"It might quieten a few people down, particularly back at home, that have been casting all these doubts about Shane Watson and his value to this team," said Ponting.

"You are not going to see striking like that from somebody who can't play the game. Shane is a very talented cricketer and someone who works extremely hard at his game.

"He hasn't had a great run with injury over the last couple of years but if you have a look at his form in the one-day side, he's hardly put a foot wrong."

Watson, 25, has played just three Tests, injuring his shoulder in his third appearance in Brisbane in November 2005 against the West Indies.

He made his one-day international debut in 2002 but his 63-game career in the shorter format has also been interrupted by fitness problems.

Chosen for the 2003 World Cup squad, he withdrew because of a back injury and had to withdraw from Australia's one-day squad that toured Bangladesh 12 months ago because of a right calf strain sustained while making 201 in the domestic Pura Cup final.

He then missed the whole of Australia's recent 5-0 home Ashes triumph against England with a hamstring problem.

Australia, bidding for a third straight World Cup title and fourth in all, play South Africa in Wednesday's second semi-final in St Lucia, 24 hours after New Zealand face Sri Lanka in Jamaica.

The World Cup final is scheduled to take place in Barbados on Saturday.