SYDNEY: All-rounder Shane Watson said on Tuesday he was unsure if he would be fit for Australia’s One-day International tri-series final against England or India but has no intention of missing the upcoming World Cup.

Watson, 33, was sidelined for Friday’s win over England and the washed out game against India in Sydney on Monday with a tight hamstring but said his recovery was “travelling really well”.

“(It’s) nothing too serious, but more so a precaution just to make sure it settles down over this week and be ready to go again by Sunday in Perth,” he said. “If not then, the practice matches leading into the World Cup.”

Australia and New Zealand are hosting the World Cup starting on Feb 14 and the former are scheduled to play warm-up games against India and the UAE.

It is still not known whether Michael Clarke will return to the team for the World Cup with his fitness under a cloud as he recovers from hamstring surgery undergone last month after he injured himself in the first Test against India.

Clarke has been given until Australia’s second game of the World Cup against Bangladesh on Feb 21 to prove his fitness, and has been named in the squad for the tournament.

However, his inclusion could push Australia’s ODI captain George Bailey out of the tournament after he leads the team in the first match, something the Tasmanian admitted in a weekend interview.

“If I’m not scoring runs and they pick him, (Clarke) then that’s fine,” Bailey said. “That’s the nature of the game — you’re scoring runs or you’re not scoring runs — you get picked or you don’t. It’s obvious — if Pup (Clarke) is there, then one of the batsmen makes way.

“Whether that’s me or someone else, that’s how it is.”

Meanwhile Steve Smith, who stood in as captain for the injured Clarke during the Test matches against India, has settled easily into the role, scoring four centuries in that series and again when ODI skipper Bailey was suspended for a game over a slow over rate.

“I’ve really enjoyed captaining the side in Michael’s and George’s absence last week in the one-day format,” Smith said on Tuesday.

“I thought the boys were outstanding. I had a good bunch of senior players around that helped me out. It’s been a good summer for me.”

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play