Watson returns to Australia side for New Zealand match

All-rounder Shane Watson will return to the Australia side for tomorrow's World Cup Super Eights match against New Zealand after missing the last three games with a calf strain.

Watson, who missed the 2003 World Cup with a back problem and the entire 2006-7 Ashes series with a hamstring injury, strained his left calf while bowling against Bangladesh on March 31.

''He's straight back in the side,'' captain Ricky Ponting told a news conference today. ''He's done everything that's been asked of him in the last few days.

''He's had quite a few good bowling spells under his belt.

He's good and he feels good about himself and he's very excited to be back.'' Watson will replace batsman Brad Hodge who makes way for an all-rounder for the second time in the tournament.

Hodge played the opening two first-round matches before he was replaced by Andrew Symonds for the final Group A match against South Africa. Symonds injured his right bicep muscle a tri-series match against England earlier in the year.

''We've had only the one little injury,'' Ponting said. ''The other guys have looked after themselves pretty well. I think what you have seen so far is a team that is very capable of winning the World Cup.'' Australia have not lost a game in the World Cup since they were defeated by Pakistan at the 1999 tournament in England.

Under Ponting they went unbeaten throughout the 2003 World Cup in southern Africa.

''In 2003 we had a few games that we snuck out of jail in,'' Ponting said. ''We had a couple of games when we were right behind the eight ball and managed to turn pretty ordinary situations in games into very positive ones.

''This time it's been us dominating from pretty much the first ball that has been bowled in this tournament.'' Reuters DH VP0225

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