Melbourne: Captain Ricky Ponting on Saturday endorsed Shane Watson as Australia's Limited Overs all-rounder and backed him to win a World Cup berth.

Watson copped the brunt of England's spirited start in Friday's triangular One-day series opener in Sydney, when Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick blazed a century opening stand.

Coming on as first change bowler, Watson was pasted for 0 for 25 from three overs and his unflattering return was seen by many as having done his World Cup aspirations more harm than good. But Ponting said he expected Watson to be among the final 15-man squad named in a few weeks for the February-March World Cup in southern Africa.

"I expect him to be there," Ponting said here on Saturday. "I think he's done OK and I think he's still improving and he'll keep improving, that's the sort of guy and player he is. It was disappointing yesterday for me not to give him a bit more of a bowl. Let's hope tomorrow he gets more of a chance."

Ponting said he was not too concerned by Watson's limited input in Sydney. He added that the 21-year-old was the victim of Australia's tactic of slowing down the tempo of the game from a third of the way through the England innings.

"It was a tough time for him to bowl yesterday. I brought him on to bowl a few overs inside 15 with the plan of getting the spinners on as soon as I could after that," Ponting said.

"Because the wicket was very, very good to face the quickies on I thought if I took some of the pace off the ball and make the English players make the running a bit more then that would work out pretty well for us and that's the way it did work out."

Ponting said Australia was still capable of improvement, having dropped a couple of sharp chances on the field, along with a missed stumping by Adam Gilchrist off Darren Lehmann.

Australia play England again on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second match of the series.

Copyright AFP 2001

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