Different pair,same result: Aussie openers take control

It was important to be among some runs after a long layoff of eight weeks, Watson said,It was important for me and Simon to set the tone ahead of the series. It was good to face Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha ahead of the Tests. Moreover,it was wonderful to score a 100.

Watson,who scored 115,also drove home the advantage of a solid opening pair. We are very conscious of building big partnerships. It is going to be hard work for us in the series and big partnerships help turn the match results. We have seen in the past in the Hobart Test against England,Michael Clarke and Ricky Pontings huge partnership turned around the match for us.

Katich conceded the contrasting style of the two batsmen helped the team,and that a good performance here would go a long way during the Ashes later this year. Me and Watson have been enjoying opening for Australia since last year. We have different styles of approaching the game,but we complement each other perfectly. It will be a testing series for both of us ahead of the Ashes. We would aim to build long innings and help the rest of the other batsmen.