If Simon Katich does not get a call from Darren Lehmann or John Inverarity in the next week, he will be even more hard done by than in October 2011.
He didn’t deserved to be dropped then, which is when I first wrote Kat was right to feel hard done by over his ongoing isolation from the Test team.
In his last three years in the Test side (2008-2010), Katich had the highest average of any Australian Test batsman. He was consistent and he valued his wicket. Unconventional and unfashionable yes, but hard to get out.
Australian cricket has a nasty habit of having favourites and scapegoats.
Shane Watson (Test Average 34.92), David Warner (Test Average 39.46) and Phil Hughes (Test Average 32.65) are favourites, consistently picked because of what they could be, rather than what they are.
In contrast to Katich, each of them has obvious technical flaws and each of them show disrespect for their wicket with impetuous strokeplay. Yet the selectors have consistently found reasons to pick them, because of ‘potential’.
A similar story applies to Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in the bowling ranks. Potential, I would argue, has been the most damaging concept in Australian cricket over the last five years.
Simon Katich, Test Average 45.03, is a scapegoat. Where the selectors have found a way to put Watson, Warner, Hughes and the like into the team, they repeatedly conjured ways to take Katich out of the team.
In the middle of the farcical 2010/11 Ashes series, in fact after only two Tests of that disastrous Australian tilt, the brains trust which gave us Michael Beer and Xavier Doherty dismissed Katich, and he has never returned.
Over the preceding 12 months, Katich had passed 80 on nine occasions, including two centuries, a 98 and a 99. Yet he claims Andrew Hilditch not only told him he was dropped, but he would never be picked again.
Think of some of the people who have been selected in Australia’s top six since then. Steve Smith, David Warner, Ed Cowan, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Phil Hughes, Marcus North, Shaun Marsh and Rob Quiney have all been given a go, in the hope they would spare the selectors the embarrasment of admitting they punted the Kat hastily.
Or, worse still, it had been personality rather than form which brought about his removal.
Not one of them has held down a place. Not one has done a better job than Simon Katich was doing.
This was, and remains, all about pride and personality. In hi two most recent innings, Katich scored 115 and 200. In Australia’s last two innings their top six batsmen collectively produced 90 and 133.
Katich’s 115 against Glamorgan last Monday was at Old Trafford, venue for the next Test, and was crafted over 294 deliveries. He faced 322 in his 200 a week earlier, in a highly pressured top of the table match against Northamptonshire.
In the first innings at Lords, Australia’s entire side lasted only 53.3 overs, or just over 300 balls.
There is only one question which should determine whether Simon Katich is picked for Australia, and that is whether he is one of Australia’s best six batsmen.
He is in form, he is proven at Test level, he can bat for long periods and is both experienced in and suited to English conditions.
Swallow your pride. Bring back the Kat.
pope paul v11
Guest
The Kat averaged 30 over his last ten test innings, although that is quite respectable these days. Much as he is to be admired at this stage his impact would be little. Just on a fanciful return of the Huss, I think he knew when to go. This tour would have proven difficult for him as well, 2009 wasn't exactly a piece of cake for him.
Felix
Guest
When you know your town will be taken over and you'll be burying slingers anyway, why not battle harden some for the next raid?
davos
Guest
well glen looks like he has erred in doing that ...shore as hell sounds like he is keen ...but rules is rules ?
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Given Simon Katich has retired as a first-class cricketer in Australia is he actually eligible to be in the Test squad? You may remember that Brad Hodge needed to make himself available and get a game at Shield level for Victoria prior to being even considered for the Ashes squad - he decided against the idea in the end. I think you will find that Katich is ineligible for Test selection according the CA's rules on national selection.
Dave
Guest
katich's whole career he dealt with pressure to perform and of being dropped. Thats what we need. Tough, rugged son of b's. When you go to a shootout you bring your best gunslingers not the ones that might be good 5 years from now
davos
Guest
dutchy Holland was one ,,agreed 35 years ago....also where was bob murray ? ( this name does not sound right..someone will know his name ) his partner in crime from who routed the windies on the scg ...also another spinner johnny Watkins...not sure about gus Gilmore...anyway fair enough ...you must declare yourself and play shield if you wanna play for your country ...so those are the rules /facts ?? I thought if they wanted they could select who they like ...well if the Kat was so serious ..and it seems he was ... he has erred ..in declaring himself retired from first class cricket ....so that means that even should they want ...they are hamstrung by rules ??? I really ask this seriously ...do you think he would be any worse than what we have witnessed last 2 tests ? I have seen this sort of thing over the years ...I remember when the poms were a rabble ..im not sure maybe it was gooch or gatting or someone someone (I don't take a lot of notice of poms ) was drafted in age 40 or close enough ...and bobby simpson around the times of the rebel tours was how old ? and S Waugh scored a ton aged I think 37 ...so I don't think age is a totally limiting factor
Brett McKay
Expert
It's a logical rule, Davos, however hard and fast it may or may not be. Sheffiled Shield is the next best level of cricket in Australia, so why would you ignore that? Also, you might recall all the hype surrounding this Sam Robson being picked for Australia, but one of the reasons he declared his allegiance to England was that he'd lose out by giving up his county contracts to play in Australia. And blokes might have been picked for NSW from Newcastle grade cricket, but I doubt anyone's been plucked straight from any grade ranks for the Test team in the last fifty years, maybe longer..
cantab
Guest
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Nudge
Guest
Davos I feel your pain mate.
davos
Guest
no need to worry ...looks like boofs solved the problem ....were gonna bring in Wade and continue with the same opening pair ,,I feel better now
rock
Guest
yeh but that's Australian grade cricket, they had not retired from 1st class cricket, it just that they hadn't been selected
davos
Guest
maybe ...is that a hard and fast rule ? .. seem to remember blokes being picked for oz playing gde cricket in Newcastle ...if they thought he could do the job...I cant see why that would stop them ...I would be happier if Kats double ton was in first div over there
davos
Guest
yes but I think we need him right now not when he is another year older after a shield season ...and he is scoring in English cond right now..wether that form translates to tests is another thing I will grant you ...but it could hardly be much worse ...and yes I agree it was plain to me that ponting was the one struggling and I was calling for him to be the one to go ...but of course ...it was all rickies the greatest etc etc etc ....I remember going to some early season shield trial games in bris ...and was surprised how ordinary he looked ...compared to others ....there was never going to be any selectors around witht the gonads to do what was required ...so he just carried on and we axed the Kat ...hell maybe even ponting could come back and perform better than this lot ....BUT THE REAL TRADGEDY IS HUSSEY ...HE HAD POSSIBLY ANOTHER 3 YEARS IN HIM ..how valuable would he be right now ...and I don't know what has gone down in the team dynamic ...and why he quit when he did ...maybe if Kat came back Huss might too
Nudge
Guest
John you obviously have never played team sport before. How can you seriously compare a player hitting one of his teammates with a player who hits someone from the opposition. With comments like that your the one who is a f clown
Brett McKay
Expert
Lehmann's already knocked this on the head, thankfully, but the whole debate has overlooked the small little detail that in retiring from Shield cricket, as Katich did last season, he has essentially retired from Test cricket. If he's not playing Shield cricket, he's not eligible..
Nudge
Guest
Your right maggie. The only way you would consider it would be if rogers fails in next 3 tests and katich decides to play shield cricket again, gets amongst the runs and comes in to first test team in Brisbane in place of rogers
Maggie
Guest
I agree with all of Nudge's comment. But to go back to Katich now, at age 38 and when he has retired from first class cricket in Australia, would be a backward step.
Nudge
Guest
The reason katich was left out of the side davos is that we were 18 months from an ashes series, we had 3 batsmen in the team that were going to be 38 by then.hussey ponting and katich. The selectors felt 1 had to go then. Ponting was captain hussey our best bat so katich was the fall guy. In hindsight it should have been ponting but no selector whoever it maybe would have ever done that. We all make the best decisions in hindsight
davos
Guest
well that's one way of looking at it ...failed to have his contract renewed when he had really good stats and had been an integral part of the top order for so long....that's as good as dropped for mine...also hiditch had apparently told him twice he was finished ....so maybe he was not a fave guy ...one who was constantly under pressure from the clue less dullards..running the show ...possibly he was not as forthcoming as he should have been with his injury ...but he obviously knew they were looking for an excuse to get rid of him ...and no one likes to give up there spot ...looks like he had reasonable grounds for his fears ...how do you replace such grit fight determination and experience as well as one of the best aves in the joint ?with what we have now..... the answer is it is very difficult ...should not have been dropped and now we are paying the price...and it looks as if no one has the guts to right the wrong ...and you have to say hes been out for a while ...could he really be able to come strait in and perform? 200 In Lancashire is not test cricket ...but I would back him over what is there now
Anthony D'Arcy
Roar Pro
I'd certainly have the Kat back. Whether that meant dropping Hughes or Smith, I could care less. There's talk that they might bring Wade back as a specialist batsman, which really begs the question, well why not Katich?