MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - One-day cricket captain Ricky Ponting today fully endorsed Shane Watson as Australia's limited overs allrounder and backed his fellow Tasmanian to win a World Cup berth.

Watson copped the brunt of England's spirited start in yesterday's tri-series opener in Sydney, when Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick blazed a century opening stand.

Coming on as first change bowler, Watson was pasted for 0-25 from three overs and his unflattering return was seen by many as having done his World Cup aspirations more harm than good.

But Ponting said he expected Watson to be among the final 15-man squad named at year's end for the World Cup in southern Africa.

"I expect him to be there, yeah," Ponting said today.

"I think he's done OK and I think he's still improving and he'll keep improving, that's the sort of guy and player he is.

"It was disappointing yesterday for me not to give him a bit more of a bowl.

"Let's hope tomorrow he gets more of a chance."

Ponting wasn't too concerned by Watson's limited input in Sydney.

He added the 21-year-old was the victim of Australia's tactic of slowing down the tempo of the game from a third of the way through the England innings.

"It was a tough time for him to bowl yesterday," Ponting said.

"I brought him on to bowl a few overs inside 15 with the plan of getting the spinners on as soon as I could after that.

"Because the wicket was very, very good to face the quickies on I thought if I took some of the pace off the ball and make the English players make the running a bit more then that would work out pretty well for us and that's the way it did work out."

But while Watson might have been a victim of circumstances, the situation was perfectly suited for Darren Lehmann, whose career-best 3-32 eased Australia's potential worry about cobbling together 10 overs after the four front-liners.

"He's (Lehmann) becoming more and more reliable with the ball and he was saying yesterday that's probably the first time he's ever bowled 10 overs in a one-day game," Ponting said.

"The last couple of series he's been able to do a very good job for us."

Ponting said Australia was still capable of improvement, having grassed a couple of sharp chances in the field yesterday, along with a missed stumping by Adam Gilchrist off Lehmann.

But the skipper was encouraged by his side's ability to fight back after an early onslaught and suggested England was lucky to get away with its cavalier approach as long as it did.

"We got put under a fair bit of pressure yesterday with the way they played early," he said.

"But if they played that way every game, there was enough balls go in the air and enough play and misses to suggest that one day that's not going to come off for them."

Australia completed a light session in the nets this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's match, with Andy Bichel again expected to carry the drinks.

Australia: Ricky Pointing (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Bichel (likely 12th man).

© 2002 AAP NewsWire

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.