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He may not stroll into a room with the greats of the game but make no mistake, Simon Katich is a mighty cricketer.
When teenager Ashton Agar was thrilling audiences across the globe with his breathtaking debut in Australia’s first Test loss to England, the former Aussie was piling on the runs for Lancashire.
So much so, the man with that unorthodox shuffle across the crease scored a gritty 200. Not only a timely knock for his county, a timely knock that reminded us all that Katich has not in fact retired from international cricket as much as he was ‘pushed to one side’.
“Invers (John Inverarity) is a nice man who I respect, but he hasn’t done his homework,” Katich said. “I never retired from international cricket. They told me they’d never pick me again. No prizes for guessing why.”
Funnily enough, none of those selectors that told Katich, 38, that he would ‘never play international cricket again’ retained their jobs. Looking at these Ashes, it was decided that he was supernumerary to a side that was supposed to contain Ponting and Michael Hussey.
The Aussies need a number 3 who can come out on the front foot and counter the loss of an early wicket or continue the momentum of a good start. Neither of which Ed Cowan is doing. If anything, he is hindering those batting behind him by coming out and showing signs of a wicket full of gremlins.
Aussie cricket fans are tired of batting failures, and like him or not Katich would at least inject some much-needed starch and substance into the top-order.
‘Boof’ Lehmann has already signaled his intentions when it comes to selecting the team. ”We are going to pick the best available each and every time,” he said.
“If they are fully fit and they can get through Test matches, they will play and if they’re not, they won’t. That’s as simple as it will be.”
Having surprised many with his selection of Agar in the first Test, maybe it’s time for Boof and co. to continue the quirky left-field selections and bring back the man that just keeps on giving.
He wouldn’t be the first jaw-dropping selection from outside the Ashes squad and he sure as won’t be the last.
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