Watson clears another World Cup hurdle

Shane Watson is happy to let the selectors determine his path back to the international scene, but his state captain Jimmy Maher believes it is essential for Watson to appear in another first-class game before any promotion. Watson's season has been regularly interrupted by hamstring injuries and Queensland's next Pura Cup match, starting on February 9, occurs during Australia's CB Series finals campaign.

Maher told AAP Watson, who made a strong return in the Bulls' innings loss to Western Australia, rushed back too quickly the previous time, when he broke down trying to prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test. "He'll need to have a proper hit-out where he's bowling 18 or 19 [overs] in a day and then backs up and does it again, for his own peace of mind," Maher said. "I think he'll want to do that. Obviously he will want to play for Australia, but his next target would have to be the World Cup."

Watson took 3 for 60 and collected 7 and 46 not out in the heavy loss at the Gabba on Tuesday, with Justin Langer saying he was a "standout" with the bat. However, Watson's focus after missing the entire Ashes series was "getting through games".

"My goal when I re-injured myself was making sure I was right for the World Cup, so whichever way the selectors think is the best way to come back, I'm in their hands," he told AAP. "Fingers crossed, it will just be a progression to the World Cup." The 15-man squad must be named by February 13.