MIKE Watkinson today reflected on England's sorry tour of South Africa knowing he was just a whisker away from World Cup selection.

The Lancashire skipper was forced to kick his heels for much of the South African tour.

His international chances were limited to just one Test match and a single appearance in the one-day series.

And Watkinson, who is already busy preparing for his benefit season at Lancashire before a pre-season tour of Jamaica, would have jumped at the chance to further impress the selectors.

The fact that his one-day contribution was limited to just a wicketless nine overs was particularly puzzling in the context of the 6-1 slaughtering.

He said: "I didn't have any opportunity to show what I can do in the one day games.

"The World Cup squad has been selected and I was told I was very close to being in the squad.

"I was very pleased to be kept on in the one-day squad in South Africa but the results were pretty disappointing to say the least."

Watkinson's ability to switch between off-spin and seam bowling may, ironically, have been a handicap to World Cup selection.

The versatile all-rounder switches between the two disciplines at county level, but is regarded as a dedicated spinner on the England scene. Had Watkinson been allowed to try his hand on South African wickets tailored for seam bowling, he might well have clinched an all-rounder's berth.

But the 34-year-old remains positive about his first tour with England.

"I enjoyed being with a great set of lads.

"South Africa is a mixed country - very nice in places but with one or two places you were desperate to get away from.

"The way the tour was structured was a little bit frustrating.

"If you were not involved in the main games, you were relying on net practice.

"And the first class matches I played in were when we were just finding our feet.

"I was very pleased I didn't go the entire tour without playing in a Test match.

"The nature of the wickets was unfortunate - they did not have much pace but they also made them not to spin.

"But in the cold light of day I was chosen to be one of the best 16 players in the country and I enjoyed being involved."

The tour provided a mixed bag of fortunes for Lancastrians.

Watkinson's frustrations were matched by John Crawley's cruel luck, forced out with a hamstring injury before a chance to perform on the Test scene. Mike said: "John was just about to show us what he can do but he is ready to knuckle down and start all over again."

The Test series was, though, a success for colleagues Peter Martin and Mike Atherton.

Watkinson added: "Peter had a top tour.

"He has pushed himself to the front and is now one of the first names on the sheet.

"And Mike just did what we all know he can."

Neil Fairbrother arrived on the scene for the one-day series and, with Atherton and Martin, carries the county's hopes onto the World Cup stage.

Watkinson is aware that the South African tour has left some mental scars.

"Confidence and form is not something you can just forget and overcome.

"The team deserve success because they have worked hard.

"The confidence is down but they have to pull it round.

"The World Cup is not a rehearsal for something happening next week - it is once every four years."

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