New Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann opens with smart Shane Watson move DARREN Lehmann's first tactical call as Australian coach - restoring Shane Watson to opener - underscores a positive pragmatism that will instantly sharpen the tourists' Ashes assault. While an attacking and shrewd strategist, Lehmann employs commonsense - typified by returning Watson to the only position he's excelled for Australia at Test level. Watson averages 43 across 25 Tests at the top of the order where he can avoid the demons that surface when he has too much time to think. Watson, 32, is at his best when the ball is hard, the field is in and he is given a licence to thrill. Players under Lehmann's command for Queensland all report clear lines of communication and know where they stand from the outset. Now Watson, a tortured soul since last opening against South Africa in November 2011, can settle for the benefit of team and self. "Watson will open in the Test series, that's no dramas for me at all," Lehmann said of Watson, averaging 24 over 14 Tests in the past two years while Ed Cowan and David Warner have opened. He's been up and down the order but most success has been as an opener. We're quite keen for him to open and to have a big part in the Ashes. Watson coveted Cowan's opening spot ahead of the India tour as ambiguity enveloped Australia's line-up but, under Lehmann, also a selector, each player will be told his role. Veteran Chris Rogers, averaging 50 for county side Middlesex this season, can be the anchorman at the other end for Watson in a sweet Test recall. Cowan will have to do something special against Somerset to retain his spot or hope selectors Rod Marsh, John Inverarity and Andy Bichel retain faith after his averaging 32 over 17 Tests. Rogers can expect the final chance to impress against Worcestershire next week ahead of the July 10 Ashes opener at Trent Bridge. Suspended bad boy David Warner's walk in the wilderness could be shortened under "father figure" Lehmann. We want to give everyone in our squad the opportunity to perform well in the tour games," said Lehmann. Speedsters Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird will be unleashed against Worcester but will be hard pressed to dislodge James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc from a pace berth in the first Test.