Sydney – Australian allrounder Shane Watson said Tuesday he was over the injury which has sidelined him for months and ready for a long summer schedule, beginning with a Twenty20 series against South Africa.
The injury-prone star has not played since the Indian Premier League in May after sustaining a calf injury from stepping on a ball during training.
“I have had time to freshen up and it has made me very excited to be playing again,” he said.
“To be able to start with T20 cricket and lead into the other cricket is a nice way to be able to build up my endurance over the next couple of weeks and couple of months leading into the summer.”
Watson, who was forced to sit out Australia's tours of Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates, will make his return in the three-match Twenty20 series against the Proteas which kicks off at Adelaide Oval on November 5.
Australia's cricket season runs until late March and includes a five-match ODI series with South Africa, a four-Test series against India and a ODI series with India and England before culminating in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“I haven't played any cricket up until this point so I will be fresh going into the time when I am going to have to make the most of my freshness especially at the back end of the summer, towards the back end of the World Cup,” said Watson.
“The most important thing is to be performing over the next couple of months to give myself a chance to stay in the summer for the whole time.
“To be a big part of the World Cup campaign as well.”
Young paceman Pat Cummins is also back from extended injury leave to play in the Twenty20 series against the Proteas.
Cummins made a stunning Test debut against South Africa in 2011, taking 6-79 in the second innings to help win the match, but has not played in a Test since.
The 21-year-old appears to finally have overcome lower back and foot problems which have kept him out of selection and has modified his actions to reduce wear on his body.
“My running and my action is a little bit straighter to be more efficient,” he said.
“But it's more about getting older and stronger and getting some more overs into the body.” – Sapa-AFP