Opening combination with Rogers reminiscent of 'chemistry' with Katich, says Watson

Former Australian vice-captain Shane Watson has said that his instant rapport with his new opening partner Chris Rogers reminded him of the chemistry that he used to share with Simon Katich during the most successful phase of his career.

Watson and Rogers put on 170 for the first wicket, and Watson hammered out a century before lunch, against a modest county attack at Worcester, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Expressing his pleasure on batting with Rogers, Watson said that Rogers is a very experienced and knowledgeable cricketer who kept him going through a few periods of time, adding that as his combination with Katich in the past is along similar lines, he was glad to have a good partnership going the first time they got a chance to bat together.

Praising Rogers, Watson further said that the veteran is able to sum up conditions and continued to provide his knowledge while they were batting, adding that he felt that Rogers gave him a few good pointers at certain times, given that he understood English conditions better than Watson himself did.

Watson also said that he hoped that his opening combination with Rogers continued for a while.

According to the report, Watson and Katich opened together in 15 Tests between 2009 and 2011, making 1523 runs with an average opening stand of 54.39, adding that their partnership continued until injury and a bullet from the selectors, after Michael Clarke took over from Ricky Ponting as captain and ended Katich's Test career.

Endorsing new coach Darren Lehmann's decision to return him to the opener's chair, Watson hinted that he should have never played anywhere else, saying that being an opener brings out the best in his personality and makes him feel that his game is well equipped to handle the challenge of facing England's best bowlers with the new ball

According to Watson, his game is more suited to opening the bowling and facing the quicks.

Although Watson's 94-ball century was his first at first-class level since he last hit three figures in a Test in Mohali in October 2010, however, the report said that he will not be judged by what he does in a peaceful setting against a second division county team, but by whether he can add to his paltry tally of two Test hundreds during the Ashes.