 The defection of many of the senior Australian players to join World Series Cricket in 1977 led to speculation that Watson would be a contender for the Australian team in the 1978/79 Ashes series against England.However, after impressive early performances, Watson had a disappointing season in 1978/79, taking only 13 first-class wickets for New South Wales at average just under 50.He returned for another season with Worcestershire in 1979, but played only nine times in first-class cricket (taking 22 wickets at 37.50) and not at all in the one-day format; from mid-July onwards he had to satisfy himself with a diet consisting entirely of Second XI games.