The fear of failure no longer spooks Shane Watson, with the veteran not stressed about when his international career ends.
The Twenty20 World Cup, which is being hosted by India and starts in March, remains the most likely swansong for the allrounder who first represented Australia in 2002.
Watson, boasting plenty of Indian Premier League experience, was named player of the tournament at the 2012 T20 World Cup.
But the 34-year-old, preparing to face India at the MCG on Friday, faces a fierce battle to make the final squad of 15.
He is one of a handful of allrounders - let alone players - in the mix to make the cut.
In previous years, Watson would be stewing over the thoughts of Rod Marsh's panel.
Now it's a different story.
"I'm over worrying about whether I'm going to get picked for the Australian team or not," Watson said.
"There's no doubt I was putting more pressure on myself to perform ... at times, you freeze a little bit out there because you're too worried about failing - instead of just worrying about getting out there and taking the game on, which is how I've been since I stopped worrying about any selection."
Watson will be required to step up on Friday, with David Warner and Steve Smith both rested from the XI that suffered a 37-run loss to India on Australia Day.
Glenn Maxwell, who shapes as critical to Australia's hopes of finally winning the T20 World Cup after five failed attempts, is likely to return from a knee niggle at the MCG.
Watson was full of praise for Maxwell, who was crowned ODI player of the year at Cricket Australia's awards night on Wednesday.
"He can come in and just take the game away from the opposition incredibly quickly," Watson said.
"He's got all the shots ... he just hits the ball wherever he wants.
"You can't really captain against it because, wherever you set the field, he'll hit it where the fielders aren't. He's incredibly talented."
Watson suggested there could be a bit of turn in the MCG pitch given it's so late in summer.
He was one of many players to fall victim to spin in the opening T20 of the three-match series.
"India's world-class spinners will come into the game a bit more. We certainly, as a batting unit, have to play them better, much better than we did in Adelaide," he said.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who dismissed Watson and Aaron Finch in Adelaide, hoped the hosts would continue to go after him.
"If they have a licence (to attack), I have a licence to pick up wickets," the offspinner said.
"I continually watched the Big Bash to see how the spinners tried to go about it.
"Coming to Australia has always been very challenging, but we enjoy it."
Share
