2003 - Three stress fractures in his back mean Watson misses the '03 World Cup.

2005 - Dislocates shoulder while fielding during his second Test match against the West Indies.

2006 - Hamstring tear keeps Watson out of the first three Ashes Tests.

2007 - Hamstring injury suffered in a domestic game rules him out of remainder of Ashes.

2007 - Sidelined by a calf injury during the World Cup in the West Indies.

2007 - After making a late start in the World Twenty20 due to injury, Watson injures his hamstring in his first game back.

2008 - Watson suffers another stress fracture in his back, ruling him out of Australia's contests against South Africa.

2009 - A groin strain sustained against Pakistan rules Watson out of the IPL.

Shane Watson's injury list since his international debut makes for rather depressing reading, with the all-rounder suffering a plethora of body knocks that would have made a lesser man consider throwing in the towel for a career not so demanding on the body.

Watson, however, refuses to let his injury woes get the better of him and has instead embraced the process, insisting that his troubles have resulted in improvement both on and off the field.

"I think I'm definitely a much better person and a better cricketer, because I absolutely don't take anything for granted because I know that it can all be taken away from you," Watson told Cricket365.

"I've made sure I've learnt from injuries I've had, whether it's physically or whether technically learning something different. I've made sure that every time I've come back I've got another skill."

Watson puts much of his progress down to the help of physiotherapy guru Victor Popov, who has remodeled his training regime.

Gone are the days of spending hours in the gym lifting weights and the nights of drinking alcohol, these days Watson bides his time doing pilates, running, cycling and swimming.

"He's just given me some direction and provided me with some answers that I really needed at that point in time," Watson says of Popov.

"He's given me a two-year plan to be able to get my body into a position where I can achieve the things I want to achieve in cricket."

Watson has taken a step closer to achieving one of those goals after being named in Australia's Ashes squad to face England in July.

The all-rounder faced a tough battle for a spot in the 15-man squad, with Andrew Symonds providing stiff competition, but in a reversal of roles Symonds was the man to miss out this time.

Symonds has often been the beneficiary of Watson's injuries, with the Queenslander replacing Watson in Australia's 2003 World Cup squad when the latter was laid low by a back injury and again when Watson injured his shoulder against the West Indies and failed to recovery from a hamstring problem to play in the 06/07 Ashes after Damien Martyn's retirement.

"I suppose it is a relief," Watson says of his selection. "But more so it's just very exciting to get another opportunity to be in the Australian Test squad, especially with the Ashes being the ultimate Test series for an Aussie."

Watson is expecting the English to come out with all guns blazing as they look to repeat their 2005 Ashes success.

"The English team are playing some great cricket, I definitely know that the Australian team will give them more of an opposition compared to what the West Indian team seem to have done in the last two Tests," says Watson.

"The young guys, Graham Onions and also Ravi Bopara at three have done extremely well.

"Every time Australia play England it's always extremely hard fought and I'm sure this time will be no different."

Before the commencement of the Ashes, Watson and Australia will first turn out in the Twenty20 World Cup, a competition in which they delivered a below-par performance last time out.

After an embarrassing defeat to minnows Zimbabwe, Australia limped into the semi-final stage only to lose to eventual winners India.

It was also a disappointing tournament for Watson personally, making his first appearance late in the tournament as a result of a hamstring strain; he was unable to complete his four overs in his first game back, with his troublesome hamstring again taking its toll.

"We didn't perform exactly how we wanted to perform in the last Twenty20 World Cup," admits Watson.

"It's a really big tournament on the international schedule now, so it's something that we're going to be doing everything we possibly can to be at our best because we didn't perform well last time, and it's something we haven't won yet."

As a big-hitting batsman the shortest form of the game is well suited to Watson and the 27-year-old admits he's rather fond of it.

"I absolutely love it!" he enthuses.

"I suppose Twenty20 cricket does suit me in a way; I suppose a strength of mine is to hit the ball firmly and try and find a way to hit the boundary, whether you're batting in the first few overs or the latter part.

"I was very lucky to play in the IPL and continue my development as a Twenty20 player, so I feel I've got a plan with the ball and the bat. I'm really looking forward to the Twenty20 World Cup and just putting my skills on show I suppose, and the plan is to be at my best."

Despite his past troubles, Watson is optimistic that he can sustain a bright future in the game.

"With the development that I'm doing and the direction I've been lucky enough to be given, I really feel that only my best cricket is ahead of me and that if I continue doing the things that I'm doing, that I'm going to have a good crack at some stage - hopefully in the next couple of years - to play consistently for Australia and also show the public what I can do."

Julia Harris