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England out to target Shane Watson

England bowler Mark Wood is keen to renew his battle with Shane Watson in the upcoming Ashes after the Australian angrily called him a ā€œnet heroā€ in 2009.

Wood, who made his Test debut last month against New Zealand, annoyed Watson when – at the age of 19 – he was used as a net bowler when Australia played in Durham.

The 25-year-old, who took nine wickets in two Tests against the Black Caps, recalled the incident when speaking to BBC Radio Five Live.

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ā€œI had a famous incident with [Watson] in the Durham nets,ā€ Wood said.

ā€œI remember Michael Hussey asking me to bounce Watson – to which I wasn’t going to say no.

ā€œI let him have one, he’s gloved it, and he didn’t give me the best of looks.

ā€œNext ball, Hussey said: ā€œGive it him again,ā€ so I’ve bumped him again, and this time he’s absolutely smoked it, picked up the ball, threw it back down the wicket at me, called me a ā€œnet heroā€ and said that he would like to have a go at me.

ā€œWell, he’s going to get his chance, so I’d like to have a go at Shane Watson one more time, and let’s hope he remembers me, because he’s going to get a few more bumpers.ā€

Wood hopes that he will catch the Australians unaware in the five-Test series, which starts in Cardiff on July 8.

ā€œI’d like to think a few of the Australians don’t know much about us and aren’t looking forward to facing me,ā€ he added.

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