MELBOURNE: Shane Watson’s spectacular decline as Australia’s premier all-rounder has not yet robbed him of his self-belief and the 33-year-old blond is still hopeful of making a comeback in the World Cup team.

Watson paved way for James Faulkner in Wednesday’s 275-run romp against Afghanistan. He watched from the sidelines as David Warner threatened to erase his Australian ODI record of 185 not out before falling seven runs short.

By then, Warner and Steve Smith, who stroked 97 at Watson’s number three position, had bettered the Queenslander’s 252-run stand with Ricky Ponting that stood as the highest Australian ODI partnership for any wicket.

Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh have overtaken him in the all-rounders’ pecking order and Watson, without an ODI century since his ninth in Oct. 2013, knew whom to blame.

“I know I haven’t scored enough runs, so I’ve only got myself to blame. That’s the way it goes,” he told reporters before flying to Sydney where Australia face Sri Lanka on Sunday. “I believe in myself and my own abilities. If an opportunity comes along, I’ll be ready to go.”

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2015

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