Shane Watson: Australia bowlers were s***ing themselves in Ashes v England

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has offered a fascinating insight into his national team's mindset during last winter's Ashes defeat to England, suggesting the side's bowlers were 's***ing themselves'.

The Baggy Green were outplayed by Andrew Strauss' men in the series, going down to a 3-1 defeat – the first time they had lost the urn on home soil since 1986/87. Watson, now Australia's vice-captain, has used his new book Watto – quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald – to launch a damning verdict on the campaign. He lambasted selectors and governing body Cricket Australia for creating a sense of panic in the dressing room before the series had even started by naming a large squad much earlier than usual. 'I don't know why the squad was named that early. There was still one more round of first-class games as well as the Australia A game against England to be completed … there was a sense of panic,' Watson stated. He went on to add that constant changing of the bowling line-up left the individuals involved 'absolutely s***ing themselves' when they came to bowl, while batsmen continued to struggle without losing their places. Since losing the Ashes, Australia coach Tim Nielsen, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and former captain Ricky Ponting have all resigned.