Simon Katich had an “amazing” time scoring his memorable 306 against Queensland but the NSW captain admits it hasn’t taken him any closer to a Test recall.

Katich and Brad Haddin (123) shared a 334-run partnership for the fifth wicket after the pair had initially planned to declare the innings closed 100 runs behind Queensland’s first-innings total of 467.

But with momentum on their side after lunch, Katich decided to carry on the innings and finished up with the highest first-class score at the Sydney Cricket Ground since Don Bradman’s Australian record of 452 not out against Queensland in January 1930.

Katich finally declared at 5.41pm on the third day of the Pura Cup clash with the Blues 8-601, a lead of 134.

Queensland was 0-23 at stumps, Matthew Hayden on 14 and Ryan Broad nine.

Asked if he had boosted his Test prospects, 23-Test veteran Katich said: “I’m not sure about that.

“The guys who are going to be picked for Brisbane (November 8-12 against Sri Lanka), guys like Phil Jaques and Stuie MacGill, hopefully will get the nod and they thoroughly deserve to be looked at,” Katich said.

“I’m just happy making runs for New South Wales and leading by example hopefully.

“I thought after lunch (at 4-259) we would try to up the ante a bit, get the 60-odd runs that we need to get to the follow-on.

“Then as things progressed, initially we had spoken as a team about maybe pulling out a hundred runs behind. But the momentum that Brad and I had in our partnership, we felt it was an opportunity to really keep them down.

“We got messages back from the dressing room saying just keep going.

“I don’t know how to describe it. It was a lot of fun.

“I don’t think I could hit the ball much better than that.”

Katich said the significance of his 306 “hasn’t sunk in”.

“I guess everything seemed to happen so quickly in that middle session,” he said.

“Brad and I looked up and all of sudden we had put on 300.
“It has blown both of us away because we just tried to keep playing with good intent and it’s amazing what can happen in that situation.”

Katich said losing his national contract left him keen to make the most of every cricket opportunity.

“I was in England at the time. I was disappointed,” said Katich, 32.

“I just had go back and make plenty of runs. It’s as simple as that when you are a batsman.

“Look at guys like Matty Hayden, his last 12 months have been fantastic.

“He is four years older than me so it just goes to show if you are mentally right and you keep working hard, there’s no reason why you can’t keep playing well.”

Katich, who has not played a Test since November 2005, gave selector-on-duty Jamie Cox something to ponder, hitting 30 fours and nine sixes in an explosive 351-ball display.

He gave one difficult chance to wicketkeeper Chris Hartley on 181 off the bowling of Test prospect Mitchell Johnson (0-134).

Ashley Noffke fought back to late to claim Katich caught at long off and Haddin lbw, finishing with 5-108 off 35.3 overs.

© 2007 AAP

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