Cowan lacked self-confidence heading into the Test series against South Africa

Australia opening batsman Ed Cowan has admitted that prior to the start of the three-Test series against South Africa, he had been doubting his skills and abilities, but backed it up with a maiden Test century during the first Test at Brisbane.

Cowan’s century during the first Test played a crucial role in helping the Australians end the match as a draw.

However, Cowan failed to make any decent scores after his sparkling century until the second innings of the third Test at Perth, where he scored a fighting 53 to try and stop the Proteas from taking the series, but it was too little too late as South Africa ended up winning the match and the series 1-0.

“In my mind to be honest there were moments when I’m going, ‘I haven’t done this before, I haven’t been the incumbent, I don’t know if this is the right preparation or I need to be doing more or less,” News.com.au quoted Cowan as saying. “Of course there were those moments, so to see those doubts come through that and score some runs, I knew I was in a good place technically, I knew I was in a good place mentally, but the results hadn’t shown that.

“They’re only fleeting thoughts, I’m not sitting at home wallowing in a glass of whiskey, they’re just moments that I’ve (asked), ‘Am I doing this the right way?”