The Ashes 2013: Top five Australian players to watch out for

3. Shane Watson

Shane Watson

The all-rounder was one of those players who were, perhaps, not comfortable in the Mickey Arthur regime. Darren Lehmann realizes the potential he has and has already decided to open with him in the first Ashes Test. That may prove to be a masterstroke as Watson’s batting abilities are heavily under-rated.

He has been Australia’s best limited overs cricketer for a while and he can step up his game to show the world that he has the temperament, the skill and the motivation to do well the most testing version of the game.