Watson is a definite starter: Ponting

Hobart: Australian captain Ricky Ponting has tipped Shane Watson to fill in the void created by the absence of Andrew Symonds, who was dropped from the tour of India in the aftermath of the fishing saga.

The Australian quoted Ponting as saying Watson's all-round abilities - including his ability to open the batting, and his correct technique, makes him a definite starter for the first Test on October 9. Ponting said, "I would be surprised if he didn't play in the opening game. 

"He's been pretty harshly viewed in recent years, but you don't average almost 50 in first-class cricket, particularly batting at the Gabba, if you haven't got the right game.

"He could get himself picked in the side as a batter alone, but what he can give us with the ball is a bonus.

"Him for Symonds is probably the absolutely likely swap at the moment." 

The Australian captain further added that Watson would have played even if Symonds was around. He said, "I think he might have played anyway if Symonds was around just for that flexibility and what his bowling can offer."

Watson hasn't played a Test match since November 2005; he battled through a series of injuries and announced his return to cricket earlier this year at the Indian Premier League. He was then picked in the Australian one-day team which took on the West Indies in the Caribbean, and very recently was part of the Australian team that thrashed Bangladesh 3-0.