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Australia's Shane Watson steps up recovery in training session

Shane Watson attends his first training session ahead of Australia's opening Ashes Test match against England next week.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has completed his first training session without any hiccups ahead of his side's first Ashes Test match against England next week.

The 32-year-old has been recovering from a hamstring injury that he picked up during his team's one-day international series in India.

"It was a pretty relaxed, low-key session getting used to the red ball again," Australia's batting coach Michael Di Venuto told Cricket.com.au.

"Batting for him wasn't an issue. He is pretty confident where he is at, at the moment. He was hitting the ball as well as was in India so that was an encouraging sign. Batting is not going to be an issue."

However, Di Venuto added that Watson will not be doing bowling training sessions for now.

"That's part of the plan, it's a slow build-up for him," he said. "He's still a week away from the first Test.

"It depends on how he feels [when he starts bowling again], simple as that. But he is a world-class batsman.

"If we have to, we will just use him as that. We have options to go with whatever way we want, if we want to use a spinner or four quicks."

The first Ashes Test gets underway in Brisbane on November 21.

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Australia all-rounder Shane Watson plays a pull shot on day one of the fifth Investec Ashes Test against England at The Oval on August 21, 2013
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