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Australian coach Tim Nielsen tonight revealed that Simon Katich pushed ahead of Phil Jaques in the openers’ pecking order by making consecutive centuries against the West Indies earlier this year.
At the time, Katich thought he was merely a stand-in while Matthew Hayden recovered from an Achilles problem. But Nielsen said he and Jaques had effectively been pitted in a “bat-off” to decide who would partner Hayden here in India.
Katich was chosen ahead of Jaques for today’s tour match against an Indian Board President’s XI in Hyderabad, sealing his place in the team for the first Test in Bangalore next week.
“Mainly the selectors thought that Katto and Jaquesy pretty much had a bat-off in the West Indies,” Nielsen said tonight.
“We didn’t picture it that way at the time, but they thought Katto was playing extremely well.
“He made hundreds in Antigua and Barbados, the last couple of Tests of the series, he’s come off a stellar summer in Australia and is in such good form that they just thought he may have edged himself in front of Jaquesy as the second choice opening batsman behind Matthew.
“It’s a nice position to be in when you’ve got three quality opening batsmen, unfortunately three doesn’t go into two, so the choice they made was to go with Simon this time.”
Nielsen said 33-year-old Katich’s left-arm wrist spin and marginally better fielding had also helped him to ease in front of his NSW teammate Jaques.
“It’s just the whole package,” Nielsen said.
“Katto can bowl spinners if we need him to. He didn’t bowl today.
“He’s a good fielder and player. I’m not saying Jaquesy doesn’t do those things, but just at the moment the feeling is that Simon is maybe playing a bit better.”
Katich’s Indian experience — he deputised successfully at No.3 for the injured Ricky Ponting on Australia’s victorious 2004 tour in India — is also thought to be a factor in his inclusion.
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