Cowan hits back at Chappell for questioning his opening spot

It seems that Australian opener Ed Cowan had been waiting for an opportune moment to hit back at his critics as after his 86-run knock against India here, he said he did not care about the likes of former captain Ian Chappell questioning his Test credentials.

"I'm going to have to score a hell of a lot of runs before that (being in Chappell's XI) happens. But I doubt that I'll ever see myself in his team," Cowan said.

"One of things with Test cricket is you work out pretty quickly that everyone has got an opinion, everyone is entitled to an opinion. Often it's not the same opinion as what you have," said Cowan, who scored 86 in 238 balls in Australia's first innings score of 408 all out in the ongoing third Test against India here.

Author of a book, Cowan said he has taken a "head in the sand" approach to his detractors, a comment which sounds in rhyme with coach Mickey Arthur's "line-in-sand-moment" stand used during the sacking of four players.

"I've taken a bit of a head-in-the-sand approach in relation to guys when they pick a team and you're not in it. So be it. I've got the opportunity now and it's important for the team now that I keep playing more innings like that," Cowan was quoted as saying by the Australian media.

Chappell has been a stern critic of Cowan, calling for Watson to replace him and join David Warner in a more aggressive, up-tempo opening alliance for the Ashes.

The compact left-hander stonewalled India for 238 balls, hitting eight fours in the process and shared a first-wicket stand of 139 with Warner. He said he was more concerned with scoring runs than trying to win over his critics.

"I'm the first to put my hand up and say I haven't been good enough in terms of making sure those 50 and 60-ball innings become 180 or 200-ball innings," Cowan said.
"That's one area where I can really kick on and if I can turn a few more of those starts into long innings then I dont really mind what Ian Chappell has to say," said Cowan, who has written a book 'In the Firing Line: Diary of a Season'.