For Shane Watson, an agonising three-year wait finally ended last week. The Aussie all-rounder last played a Test match in 2005, after which his career hit a roadblock due to a string of injuries. And it was only natural that he expressed delight at getting to play a Test again.

"This Test match has been the most fun I ever had playing cricket. It has been the most experience for me. Just batting out there today I learnt a lot; facing Harbhajan [Singh] on a turning track, handling the big reverse swing from [Zaheer Khan [Images]]. And even bowling on these wickets I have learnt a lot already. It has been an amazing experience, a lot of fun. I never thought I would ever have played Test cricket again. I am enjoying every second and making the most out of it," Watson said in Bangalore on Sunday.

Scorecard | Day 4 images | Report

The 27-year-old has already made quite an impact in the first Test against India with both bat and ball. In India's first innings, he took a career-best three for 45, accounting for the wickets of Rahul Dravid [Images], Harbhajan and Anil Kumble [Images].

He came out to bat in a difficult situation, with Australia [Images] struggling at 115 for 4 in their second innings, but his unbeaten knock of 32 ensured that his team did not lose the initiative.

"For me it was survival, basically. Zaheer Khan was bowling really well; he was bowling very big reverse, specially the ball coming into me from around the wicket.

"It was fairly hard to survive than anything. There were no specific plans or anything, because if there was a ball to be hit, I would have hit. Zaheer was bowling well and was very hard to get away. We just waited for the loose balls because we didn't want to take any unnecessary risks," he said.

Watson's comeback actually started in the inaugural Indian Premier League [Images] Twenty20 [Images] tournament. He was the player of the tournament after helping unfancied Rajasthan Royals [Images] win the tournament. He made an all-round contribution of 472 runs and 17 wickets.

He still believes Australia can win the opening Test if the bowlers deliver on the final day, Monday.

"The ball is getting reverse fairly, which is a good sign for our quicks [fast bowlers]. I think we do have a chance but we have to bowl extremely well," Watson said.

The 27-year-old believes that the pitch is still good for batting, though there are a few cracks that made the ball shoot op.

"I thought it would deteriorate fairly quickly after day three, but it has not. It has held on really well. It hasn't deteriorated as much as we thought it would. The occasional ball has done something because of a crack or something. But, yes, there are cracks and it can get a bit up and down; hopefully I hit a few in the right spots."

Watson did not agree that half-centuries from Zaheer Khan and

Harbhajan Singh [Images] helped put India in a strong position, to at least escape with a draw.

"I don't think it took the game away from us. They took us on and I suppose we didn't react quick enough to drag it back. We always knew that there would be a partnership; they did that well. We are in a really good position; if we bowl well tomorrow we can win the Test match," he said.

He said his role in the team is clearly defined.

"The wickets do not matter for me. It is about bowling tight and holding one end up. My role is to keep it tight, just dry the runs, and if get wickets that is a bonus."