Watson thanks Lehmann for reviving career

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Prior to Lehmann's appointment as head coach with the national team Watson found himself out of favour with Mickey Arthur.

As Australia headed into the 2013 Ashes series in England the 33-year-old's place was in doubt until Arthur was sacked following a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy performance.

Lehmann immediately restored Watson to the side and he went on to score 418 runs, the most of any Australian in the series, but could not stop England retaining the Ashes with a 3-0 win.

Watson has scored 828 Test runs since being reinstated and he admits he is indebted to Lehmann for giving him that chance to prove himself.

"I owe a hell of a lot to Darren because I was at a stage where I didn't know where I was at with my international career especially," he told Cricket Australia. 

"Darren came in – and not just for me, I know it was for a lot of other guys as well – and just provided an amazing injection into what was required for us to be able to get back on track, [and] we got back on track very quickly."

Australia return to Test action on Wednesday when they face Pakistan in the first of a two-match series in the United Arab Emirates.

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