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The Australian cricket selectors’ decision to not extend the contract of Simon Katich removes the only player likely to be the saviour of the rabble currently known as the Australian cricket team.
Once again, the selectors have failed to grasp the issues that beset this team and the game as a whole. Even more woeful was that they again tried to deceive their supporters.
Katich’s Cricket Australia contract for the coming 12 months, commencing 1st July 2011, has not been renewed. The reason is that the selectors want to build another opening partnership for the 2013 Ashes series.
Katich saw the delivery early. He judged it to be a poorly disguised, full-toss and chose to dispatch it to the boundary and beyond. His shot selection was correct.
His shot execution was beautiful.
Katich chose to come clean at a press conference yesterday. He shared his view of what had happened and what was behind the decision: age and poor judgement by the selectors.
But it is what he didn’t say that is more important. It is well known that Clarke and Katich don’t see eye to eye. This is no surprise. They are very different people.
One is a man. The other is a boy.
One is a self-centred, tattooed, under-performing, publicity-seeking purveyor of “sponsor speak” whose technique was exposed by a 16 year old kid.
The other is a gritty, straight-talking, comeback kid, who has only lived his Australian cricketer’s dream by fighting for it with a reliable technique, by changing states mid-career and becoming a leader of men by his example.
Forget about getting the opening partnership sorted out. Who would you lead while rebuilding of the whole Australian cricket team, just two years out from the next Ashes? Allan Border or Willie Mason?
The Australian selectors chose Willie Mason.
Katich and his grit had the makings of a potential saviour of the next era of Australian cricket. His blunt assessment of the situation at yesterday’s press conference has further confirmed that he is saviour material.
While the Australian selectors attempt to mislead Katich and the Australian cricket audience has failed, it has succeeded in showing, yet again, that it is the selectors and captain that are deluded. Self-deluded.
Is the Katich-Watson opening pair in need of renewal? No.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Katich and Watson were doing well.
Does it take two years to establish an opening pair? Again, no.
And even if Katich and Watson’s form didn’t last two years, one good long innings can often cement an opening pair.
Who is knocking at the door to open the batting now or in the next two years? Certainly not the flashy, unreliable bunny Phil Hughes.
There is only one way to be truly ready for the Ashes in 2013. Replace the part0time selectors with full-time selectors and replace the proposed captain with Simon Katich.
They will then select the toughest young cricketers and blood them in the ways of tough, uncompromising cricket. They can take a leaf out of Allan Border’s book.
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