Watson longs for return to the bowling crease I feel like I have got a big innings coming ... Watson. HYDERABAD: Like an addict craving a fix, Shane Watson felt the first pang of temptation standing in the field in Chennai, watching helplessly as MS Dhoni went on a rampage. His vice is not booze or the punt, but being an all-rounder. "That was a time that reaffirmed to me that I do want to bowl," Watson said on Thursday as Australia began preparations for the second Test, starting at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. I suppose it was more so the times where I felt I could have some impact on the game if I was bowling, just the times where I have experience bowling in these conditions. That was a time where if I hadn't have made the decision not to bowl for this tour that I could have had some input on the game at a crucial time in the match. It was the first time over the last month I've had since I came back playing that I missed bowling. Australia's vice-captain is operating as a batsman only India, acknowledging he needed a break from the relentless stress that comes with bowling. After suffering a calf injury during the Boxing Day Test he decided enough was enough. There was even the suggestion at the close of Australia's win over Sri Lanka in Melbourne that he may give bowling the flick altogether. If that intention was tucked away in a corner of Watson's mind it isn't now. His desire is to be functioning on all cylinders by the time Australia land in England in June for the ICC Champions Trophy and the Ashes. The likelihood is he will not bowl competitively again until at some point during the Indian Premier League in April and May. But in Chennai, where Australia's attack was battered mainly by double centurion Dhoni in an eight-wicket defeat, and where Moises Henriques was instead the team's all-rounder, resuming bowling during this series suddenly seemed a good idea. "That thought has gone through my mind a few times," Watson said. But I suppose we do have to stay on course. There were reasons why I made that decision - to try and get my body conditioned enough to get back into my bowling. I know I've needed two or three months just to be able to get some conditioning into my body, to then hopefully hold together for the next period of time once I get back bowling again. I do appreciate the decision but it certainly reaffirmed to me that I'm never going to give up bowling. It excites me having some input on the game especially when what I do could have an influence on a certain part of the game.There were a number of reasons why I made that decision, most importantly is trying to score some runs in Test cricket as well. That has not gone quite to plan yet. Watson gathered early momentum in both his innings in the first Test, before coming unstuck on 28 and 17 respectively. More than two years since the second of his two Test hundreds - on Australia's previous tour of India - the 31-year-old realises the need to offer captain Michael Clarke substantive support in the middle order. "It's frustrating in the way that I feel I am in control of my game," Watson said. I feel like I have got a big innings coming. In these conditions and in general I am batting as well as I ever have. I feel like I have got a few more options against spin than I did and I am confident a big score is around the corner.