Australia upbeat on Watson injury

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson's latest injury is not as bad as first feared, team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Wednesday.

The injury-prone Watson was ruled out of Australia's Ashes tour opener against Sussex at Hove, starting on Wednesday, with what appeared to be a knee problem and his setback led to concerns that a 17th player would have to be summoned to England as cover.

But following a scan on Tuesday, Kountouris said: "Shane Watson had a scan on his left knee yesterday and it has confirmed a low grade strain of one of his quadriceps muscle

"We expect his injury should resolve fairly quickly, his return to play will be guided by progress made in the next few days."

Earlier, Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted calling up an extra player was a possibility.

"We might have to do that," he said. "That's what some of the discussion's about, particularly if we happen to have, for an unknown reason, a batter happen to hurt themselves in this game then we could be a little bit short."

Victoria's Brad Hodge would be among those in line if Australia felt they had to summon an extra player.

But Ponting hopes Watson will be fit to play in the first Test at Cardiff starting on July 8 should any of the leading top six batsmen be ruled out.

"It's not a major thing at the moment and we're hoping it's not anything major that will show up on the scan," Ponting said.

"Hopefully within a couple of days he's right to start back up and work up on his bowling again.

"For him it's obviously a setback. He's disappointed that he wasn't available for selection in this game.

"I don't know if it harms his chances even more for the first Test match but there's an opportunity that's slipped out of his grasp over the next four days."

Australia have one more match against the England Lions, the national A side, at Worcester, from July 1-4 before they begin the defence of the Ashes, which they won 5-0 on home soil in 2006-07.

Watson, 28, has played just eight Tests in a career blighted by injuries, most recently a stress fracture in his back which was diagnosed during last year's Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.