Disgruntled Australian Test discard Simon Katich could make a stunning return to the team for the Test series against India as skipper Michael Clarke has reportedly pushed for his inclusion despite their bitter past equation.
Published: Dec 16, 2011, 07:11 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 16, 2011, 07:11 AM (IST)
Simon Katich has scored 4188 runs for Australia in 56 Tests at an healthy average of 45.03 © Getty Images
Melbourne: Dec 16, 2011
Disgruntled Australian Test discard Simon Katich could make a stunning return to the team for the Test series against India as skipper Michael Clarke has reportedly pushed for his inclusion despite their bitter past equation.
As a struggling Australia look for ways to strengthen their fragile batting line-up before the four-Test series starting December 26, Clarke, according to a TV channel here, is behind a push to bring back Katich.
“Australia’s selectors have discussed recalling Katich to the Test XI for the Boxing Day clash with India – just two days after the veteran batsman revealed he had all but given up on representing his country again,” reported ‘The Daily Telegraph’.
And Katich, who was reprimanded for making detrimental public comments against Clarke some weeks back, would be all too happy to make himself available if the need arises.
“If the report on Channel Nine that Michael Clarke and the selectors are talking about Simon for Test cricket, whether it be Boxing Day or any other day [is true], Simon would be very excited and I would be very excited for him,” the batsman’s manager Robert Joske said.
“The coach, the chairman of selectors, have both said the door was always open for Simon and I can’t think of a better time than now for Simon to be walking through it.”
The 36-year-old Katich was stripped off his central contract in May and he minced no words in making his bitter frustration known to Cricket Australia in a press conference after that.
Katich later held Clarke responsible for the loss of his contract, saying that a dressing room bust-up with the current skipper two years ago was the reason why he could no longer see a Test future for himself. Clarke, however, had denied the charge. (PTI)
