WHEN Shane Watson was injured last week and they were not sure how serious the injury was, there was a bit of speculation about who might take his place in the Australia squad if he had to go home.

I didn't see any of it myself but I'm told my name was mentioned in newspapers both here and back in Australia.

This is not the first time this has happened. I guess my name comes up every now and again, generally behind a couple of other guys, and I never get my hopes up too much.

Playing for Australia in an Ashes Test series would be a great opportunity and if that opportunity came along, I would be mentally ready to take it.

I have only played one Test match in my career and that was a fantastic experience, one of the proudest moments of my life.

But I've gone through this talk of getting back in the side quite a lot now and for the most part, it becomes a disappointment.

January was the last time, when there was a spot available for the South African tour, and it almost came down to one game in the Sheffield Shield.

I guess I put so much pressure on myself that I didn't really enjoy it. I got a 90 in the second innings but Phil Hughes got twin centuries and that was that.

I was hugely disappointed at the time but I'm not really worrying about those things any more. They are just the wrong things to worry about.

My parents are over from Australia right now for a short visit and it was good to have them here to a chat about this and get a different perspective on it all.

Australia named a squad of 16 for the tour and that always leaves you a bit vulnerable if there is an injury.

I am over here, so I guess that will be in my favour. While you would never wish injury on anyone, if an opener does go down, I would like to think I was in the frame.

Watson is the one that's under the injury cloud at the moment and he's more of a middle order player, so looking at the balance of the squad they picked, they would perhaps have it in their minds to swap him for a player who is more used to playing in that role.

That's where those names like Brad Hodge and Callum Ferguson come up.

I'd be disappointed if Ferguson got picked in front of me, simply going on records, but Hodge is obviously a class player. He's wanted the chance to play for Australia for a long time now, so if the option came up, it might be hard for him to turn down, even though I've heard he's celebrating the birth of a second child.

The simple truth is I'm not sure which option they go for.

I haven't heard from Cricket Australia but then you never really do. Communication is always at a bit of a premium and that's how they do it.

They expect you to just get on with the job and if your opportunity comes up, you take it.

That's fine by me. I don't really need someone babysitting me, so I'll just get on with doing what I'm doing and not worry about anything else.

That's the only way I'm looking at it at the minute because I've got a job to do with Derbyshire. Captaining the side is a new challenge and one that is quite difficult but I'm enjoying it.