Shane Watson tells Australia: keep me at the top of the order

Shane Watson has told Australia's management he does not want to be used as a solution to the side's middle-order problems, and is determined to remain at the top of the order. Talk of moving the 29-year-old to five or six in place of either Michael Hussey or Marcus North, who are under pressure to retain their places for this summer's Ashes, has grown in recent months. And last year, captain Ricky Ponting said: "He's better suited down the middle order and giving us 15 to 20 overs a day as well. That's the sort of cricketer I always thought he'd be.'' But Watson told the Sydney Morning Herald he would fight to retain his place. "I would be putting forward a very strong case to stay at the top of the order and, to be totally honest, I have in the last three or four months. That is exactly where I want to bat. "They haven't asked me to move down, just asked me what my thoughts were about where I see myself at. I love the challenge of taking on the world's best quick bowlers with the brand new ball, it's an amazing challenge. I'm really enjoying it.'' But Watson admitted the team's habit of losing wickets "in a clump" during key periods of matches was a problem that needed solving. "There's no doubt that's something we do need to improve on because it's been one of our downfalls over the last 12 months. At times when we've lost Tests we've had a bad hour or a bad session whether it's with the bat or the ball as well. "That's an area we need to continue to work on and really need to get right for the Ashes because this England side is a very talented team. If we're not totally on top of our game, like what happened in India and previously in the Ashes as well, then all of a sudden you're in a very good place then, within an hour or two, we're well behind in the game. "We want to learn from our mistakes and not keep making the same ones. If we do we're not going to get the results that we can.'' Watson accepted he was also to blame and needs to convert more half-centuries into hundreds. "That's what the best players in the world do and that's where I'm aspiring to develop my game to."