By Benjamin Conkey
March 26th 2009 @ 1:48am
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Simon Katich is Australia’s best spin bowler
Who is better than Katich at the moment? He spins the ball. He gets bounce. But most importantly, he’s left-handed.
For some reason, the world’s elite batsmen have historically struggled against the lefties, and especially lefties who bowl wrist spin. Even Brian Lara couldn’t read Brad Hogg’s wrong-un (possibly because he was distracted by his tongue).
Yes, Katich bowls the occasional long-hop. But then again, so did Stuart MacGill.
It came as a great surprise to everyone that, in amongst the carnage of McGain, Ponting did not throw the ball to Katich until the 150th over of South Africa’s innings.
The fact that he got two quick wickets and had taken wickets previously in the series made the decision even more bizarre.
Even the usually conservative Jim Maxwell on ABC Radio was scathing in his denouncement of Ponting’s tactics.
It’s easy to look at this with hindsight after McGain’s shocker. But Australia has to stop this obsession with the quick fix for everything, including Kevin Rudd’s stimulus package and alcopops.
The spin bowler quick fix is clearly not working.
They’ve tried every spin bowler in the country and discarded them one after the other. McGain is the latest to fall, and will no doubt leave Test cricket with the most unflattering of figures.
Katich can bowl, so let him bowl.
His average is under 30. His strike rate is under 50, and he’s taken 18 wickets in less than 150 overs. Not bad for an apparent part-timer.
Ponting needs to look at how Mark Taylor used Michael Beven in the 90s.
Bevan was ordinary in State cricket, with an average of more than 40. But Taylor used him extensively in his short Test career to great effect.
If Australia is so desperate for a ‘proper’ spinner, perhaps they should do as Spiro Zavos suggested some time ago. Send the SOS out to Shane Warne for the Ashes.
He hinted that he would do it if Ponting pleaded.
Australia has been so busy searching for a spin bowler and an all-rounder, which makes it kind of ironic that Katich and Mitchell Johnson have emerged as more than capable of filling those requirements, compared with the guys selected to do the job.
But I bet you Australia will take a ’specialist’ spinner to England and it won’t be Shane Warne, which means they won’t really be that special.
So why not stick with Simon Katich? Or just leave it up to Mitchell Johnson to take all the wickets and we can forget this little spin conundrum.
(11)
Marvin said | March 26th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Chinaman bowling by far the hardest art to master. Put some faith in kaitch and he will take wickets. batsmen do not see a left arm wrongun that often. It is a wicket taking ball to either a leftie or right handed batsmen when it lands. Punter must bowl him more
Marty said | March 26th 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Absolutely. You are spot on. Spinners = Katich and Clarke. Use North too as an option.
Allrounders are Johnson and Katich. Dump Ronald. And surely there is room in the side to take Hodge everywhere as a back up batter. If they are desperate for a “full time spinner” what was wrong with Krazy?
The selections since the Indian tour have been baffling. They are picking people who haven’t done anything at state level….
Jameswm said | March 26th 2009 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
I agree with the general sentiments.
1. Take Krejza to England as the only specialist spinner. None has gone that well but at least crazy takes wickets.
2. unless it’s a barren pitch, pick 4 quicks – Johnson, Siddle, SClark and Lee or Hilfy or Bolly
3. North is the most bowled of the part time spinners. Clarke picks up wickets and has got them in bundles before. Those two and Kato can cover the spin option. All three are very good part-time spinners but Punter needs to actually use them.
4. I can’t see any room for Watson in there at the moment even if he’s fit. Ronnie as everyone said is a handy batsman and a handy bowler, but you’ve got to excel at at least one of them to play test cricket. He wouldn’t be close to making the side as either.
On another note – batting Johnson at 7 is probably placing too much pressure on him and would mean dropping a batsman (Hussey at the moment). It would allow you to play 4 quicks plus a spinner. Krejza is a handy bat though.
Mr Sports said | March 26th 2009 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
I agree that Simon Katich is a great optiona dn that Australia should give up on trying to force a spinner into the team Australia has always been at its strongest when we picked the best four bowlers in the country, the best six batsman and the best wicket-keeper. if they offer some other skill great but all 11 players should be excleent in their chosen disciplien first.
specifically on Katich i had gained the impression that him not bowling was at least partly due to a reluctnace on his part due to concerns about suffering an injury to his shoulder. the same reason why michale clarke doesn’t bowl more overs (though his is back not shoulder).
Justin said | March 26th 2009 @ 8:52pm | Report comment
He may be pretty handy as is clarke and north but the problem is Kat & Clarke both have issues with the bodies which bowling inflames. So risking two of you best and key bats is something I would tread very wearily with.
Funny how if a batsman gets a duck we dont say he is gone forever but McGain (who has been the best spin domestic bowler for the past few years) is gone after a horror show in only his second 1st class match back from major surgery.
Anyone remember how Warne went after his surgery (not that McGain is in that class)……he was dropped!
The problem is there is little 1st class cricket for any of our spinners to play before the Ashes unless a county in ENG picks them up.
Heard Greg Matthews say that he would take McGain and Crazy the other day. I tend to agree.
Marty – the selections have been baffling since well before India – how the fark was White ever, ever picked to play Test cricket???
Marty said | March 27th 2009 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Justin. Don’t even get me started on White!!! I think they picked him in 1 of the games in India instead of S.Clarke wtf
I’m still trying to erase the vision of 1 of his balls going down legside on a long hop for 4 leg byes by about 2meters
drewster said | March 27th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Let’s not forget Shane Warne’s test debut where he collected figures of 1/150 (Ravi Shastri caught by Dean Jones for 206) off 45 overs, and recorded figures of 1/228 in his first Test series. Hopefully one of the spinners will come good soon, But 3 part timers with some sort of form, I would think is a better gamble than 1 of the specialists with no form.
merv said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
i disagree simon katich is good but hes not australias best spin bowler! you have got that wrong, hes a great batter but not the best spin bowler!
Norman said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Simon Katich is pretty good but not the best.
I reckon Michael Clarke is.
Simon Katich is a good batter!
merv said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
NO!
Carolyn Martin said | March 2nd 2010 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
I think Simon Katich is one of the best in the Australian team – he is a top batsman, a great fielder and yes, he even bowls. I just cannot understand why Ponting doesn’t acknowledge this by bowling him a bit more regularly. It’s a case of can’t see the forest for the trees I guess. Also, Kat is not a prima donna. Australia’s best spin bowler was Shane W – since then they seem to be searching – when you have somebody who can do the job why not use him.