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Shane Watson's likely return means Brad Hodge is set to resume life as a professional fieldsman when New Zealand square off against Australia in their final Super 8 contest tomorrow.
Watson, sidelined with a strained calf muscle picked up against Bangladesh on March 31 on the sand-based runups in Antigua, practised confidently ahead of the match at Grenada National Stadium, and is rated by captain Ricky Ponting as a likely starter.
If he does play, Hodge's World Cup - consisting so far of five games and just two batting opportunities - will be put on hold, possibly for the rest of the tournament.
"He [Watson] bowled fine in the nets today. I had a chat to him once he'd finished and he felt good," Ponting said yesterday.
"We'll just see how he pulls up in the morning. He should be fine. He's built up to having a 100 per cent bowl today and he did that okay.
"If he is 100 per cent he'll pretty much come straight back into our team."
Ponting said it was almost certain if Watson returned to the fold tomorrow, it would be at the expense of Hodge, who made a century against the Netherlands in the group phase of the competition.
"It was actually quite funny. We were flying somewhere the other day and filling out our arrival forms as we descended and when it came to the question of occupation, Hodgey put down 'professional fieldsman'.
"It feels like that's all he's been doing lately, but he will probably be the unlucky one if 'Watto' [Watson] comes back - and it looks like he's going to."
Watson's likely return will introduce far more balance into the Australian lineup, and should relieve the bowling pressure on players such as Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and the battery of frontline specialists.
Ponting sounded as if he'd be surprised if Watson didn't scrub up for the New Zealand game. "I'd expect he is really close to being at his absolute best for the game," he said. "He might be a little bit off with his skills but physically he should be pretty good.
"He bowled four and a half overs today at 100 per cent, with about a dozen deliveries before that as a warmup. He looks good."
