Cook,Carberry hit daddy tons

Shane Warne ruffled a few feathers when he labelled England captain Alastair Cook boring and questioned batsman Joe Roots technique this week but he retains plenty of goodwill from Ashes hopeful Michael Carberry. The former Australia spinner told British media one-Test Carberry would make a better opener than talented youngster Root and was duly vindicated on Wednesday.

I think Shane Warne is basically the reason I actually got a chance to play Test cricket, Carberry told reporters of his mentor,who captained Hampshire from 2004-07. I was a young guy who was a little bit lost in county cricket. I didnt really get an opportunity. I came to Hampshire and from day one he made me feel very very much at home. He gave me the backing any young player needs and allowed me to play a brand of cricket that I wanted to play. So I think he was very influential in terms of me actually doing what Ive done and obviously getting a chance of playing for England.

Watson may play 1st Test

All-rounder Shane Watson could recover from a hamstring injury in time to face England in the first Ashes Test starting in two weeks,Cricket Australia CA said on Wednesday. Watson strained his left hamstring in Australias one-day series deciding defeat to India on Saturday,leaving him scrambling to prove his fitness for the Ashes opener. Scans had confirmed a low-grade muscle strain, team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a media release. He will have intense treatment and rehabilitation in Sydney over the coming days, Kountouris said.