Cricket: Watson impatient in the wings

Shane Watson has thrust his hand up to open the batting - while Justin Langer has offered to come out of retirement - as Phillip Hughes' form slump threatened to undermine the Australian top order in the third Ashes cricket test.

Watson opened his case for a recall by slapping a crisp 84 off 96 balls against Northamptonshire after Hughes' (10) run of outs continued before the crucial Edgbaston test starting on Thursday.

Allrounder Watson said he had ironed out some kinks in his batting technique with Greg Chappell and displayed proof with a hard-hitting knock that was interrupted by rain delays.

Watson said he was prepared to open the batting for Australia if required and ready for a new ball assault from England's Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson.

"I feel like I have got the game, like I have got the technique and the mental side of things in order to give myself the best chance of combating that," he said. "They are definitely some of the best bowlers in the world so it is one of the biggest challenges you could face in world cricket, facing those guys with a brand new ball on a fresh pitch.

"But I feel I have the game to be able to handle that."

It was Watson's first outing of the tour after injury. The 28-year-old doesn't seem to have been put off at all by his brief but disastrous flirtation with opening for Queensland during the 2007-08 season, during which he scored 28 in six outings.

Hughes lost his wicket to a good ball that lifted off the pitch and badly needs runs in the second dig of the tour match against a weakened Northamptonshire line-up. His dismissal continued a worrying trend for the left-hander of losing his wicket against the rising ball and put his tour tally to 175 runs at 21.87.

The other option at the top of the order for Australia is Mike Hussey. But the Australians won't be overly keen to shuffle a batting order that has otherwise looked solid in the opening two tests.

There is another possible path for Watson back into the test side, at No. 6. Marcus North has done a fine job in his four tests but Watson could become an attractive option with his seamers if the Edgbaston deck has a bit in it for the quicks.

Groundsman Steve Rouse said there was next to no chance of the pitch taking turn in Birmingham and that could help push Watson over the line against North.

Australia were 231 for three at stumps on a rain-affected day one at Northampton with acting skipper Hussey (75) and North (32) unbeaten.

Meanwhile, former test opener Langer said he was prepared to play if asked. Langer, who this week became Australia's highest first class runs record holder, beating Sir Donald Bradman's first class run-scoring record, has admitted to missing the thrill of test cricket. The 105-test veteran is currently playing for English county side Somerset.

Langer retired from test cricket after Australia's 5-0 demolition of England in the 2006-07 Ashes.

- AGENCIES