Australia hopeful about Watsons recovery

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson's latest injury is not as bad as first feared,informed team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson8217;s latest injury is not as bad as first feared,team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said on Wednesday.

The injury-prone Watson was ruled out of Australia8217;s Ashes tour opener against Sussex at Hove,starting on Wednesday,with what appeared to be a knee problem and his setback led to concerns that a 17th player would have to be summoned to England as cover.

But following a scan yesterday,Kountouris said: 8220;Shane Watson had a scan on his left knee yesterday and it has confirmed a low grade strain of one of his quadriceps muscle. We expect his injury should resolve fairly quickly,his return to play will be guided by progress made in the next few days.8221;

Earlier,Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted calling up an extra player was a possibility.

8220;We might have to do that,8221; he said. 8220;That8217;s what some of the discussion8217;s about,particularly if we happen to have,for an unknown reason,a batter happen to hurt themselves in this game then we could be a little bit short.8221;

Victoria8217;s Brad Hodge would be among those in line if Australia felt they had to summon an extra player.

But Ponting hopes Watson will be fit to play in the first Test at Cardiff starting on July 8 should any of the leading top six batsmen be ruled out.

Story continues below this ad

8220;It8217;s not a major thing at the moment and we8217;re hoping it8217;s not anything major that will show up on the scan,8221; Ponting said.

8220;Hopefully within a couple of days he8217;s right to start back up and work up on his bowling again.

8220;For him it8217;s obviously a setback. He8217;s disappointed that he wasn8217;t available for selection in this game.

8220;I don8217;t know if it harms his chances even more for the first Test match but there8217;s an opportunity that8217;s slipped out of his grasp over the next four days.8221;

Story continues below this ad

Australia have one more match against the England Lions,the national A side,at Worcester,from July 1-4 before they begin the defence of the Ashes,which they won 5-0 on home soil in 2006-07.

Watson,28,has played just eight Tests in a career blighted by injuries,most recently a stress fracture in his back which was diagnosed during last year8217;s Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.