Watson believes his Twenty20 World Cup bowling battering was wake-up call

Sydney, June 4(ANI): Australian all-rounder Shane Watson reckons the battering that his bowling received during the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies was a wake-up call for him to improve.

Watson was attacked by opponents looking for any sort of respite from the fast bowling trio of Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson.

The 28-year-old had unflattering tournament figures of two wickets at an average of 81.5 and economy rate of 10.18 runs per over.

"My bowling in T20 had been going okay, but I think (it was) a combination of things, whether they were targeting me or also coming off the back of our barrage of pace as well," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Watson, as saying.

"That's something I've got to re-assess and find a way of being better at that, because we're very lucky to have what we do have with our pace attack. That's something I'm going to have to continue to work on so I don't get smacked as much as I did during the T20," he added.

Watson further admitted that there is the need to ensure that batsmen do not get too inclined to do similar things in 50-over cricket, with a World Cup on flat sub continental wickets looming.

"No doubt (I have to watch 50-over matches too), the good thing about 50 overs is the risk/reward is a little higher," Watson said.

"I've got to continue to improve but batters don't usually take as many risks because they've got longer to bat," he added. (ANI)