Shane Watson is hoping the 2013 Ashes Tour is a turning point in his career SHANE Watson views this Ashes series as a new beginning. Four years ago, he unexpectedly relaunched his Test career as an opening batsman during Australia's last Ashes tour. Now he hopes to start again after the most tumultuous summer of his decade or more in the game. It began in a blaze of glory when Watson was named World Twenty20 player of the tournament in Sri Lanka and ended in a rage of controversy which saw him suspended, captain Australia, and then reluctantly hand back the vice-captaincy. More injuries and an itinerant shuffling through the batting order has seen his form suffer to the point where the dual Allan Border Medallist is struggling to hold his place in the Test team. "That is definitely the most challenging period I've had in my cricket career,"" Watson says. There was a lot of soul searching about everything and one thing that really stands out is how much I really love and enjoy the privilege of playing cricket for Australia. That has always been my dream as a young kid, and it still is my dream to play for Australia, to perform as well as I can and help the team as much as I can to get the best out of ourselves. That's why I'm so excited about getting out there and playing in England. The last few months have made me realise how much of a privilege that is."" Shane Watson pictured with the Ashes urn. Watson's frustration is compounded by the fact that his exceptional performances in white-ball cricket have not been replicated at Test level more regularly. "Lack of continuity (with injuries) has played a part, but there is no doubt that with my Test batting over the past two years I haven't been able to find any consistency,"" he says. There have been a couple of decent innings, but that's about it. Being able to get the best out of myself with bat and ball as an all-rounder has been one of the biggest challenges. "I know I've got it in me because I've done it in Test cricket with bat and ball, but certainly not for the last couple of years."" Watson, who turns 32 this month, has fond memories of his sudden call-up for the third Ashes Test in 2009 and the progress he made as an opening batsman. They are memories he hopes to replicate in this series. "That was really the catalyst behind the real improvement and development of me as a cricketer,"" Watson says. "With all that has gone on in the last three or four months, hopefully this can be another turning point in my career to get back on track with my batting especially, wherever that is in the batting order."" After replacing Phil Hughes for the last three Tests of 2009, Watson's highest score may have been a modest 62 but such was his consistency that he averaged 48. While failing to turn good starts into big scores has become Watson's central issue - he has just two hundreds in 41 Tests - it was his consistency at the top of the order during the next two years which made him such an important player. Watson carries the relative personal success from that previous series in England and happy memories from county cricket back to the Old Dart. "It gives me confidence to know I've had some success against the majority of bowlers who are still playing for England now,"" Watson says. I've also been lucky to have had experience playing county cricket and other types of cricket in England. We do lack a little bit of experience playing in England throughout our squad so I know how important my experience is. I have to try to set an example and pass on the experience I have because conditions are obviously different. The Duke ball also provides a different challenge, given it can swing or reverse swing pretty much all day."" Watson's first advice to younger players will be to make sure they stay switched on while batting. "At any stage you feel like a ball can come out of nowhere and get you out, whereas in Australia when the wickets are flat and the ball's not really doing anything you know that you can get into a groove and a rhythm against the bowler,"" he says. In England, with the conditions the way they are, the Duke ball can move or do something a little bit different. That's something I learnt on the last tour. The guys who have success in England are the guys who never let their guard down.""