SM Katich of Australia

Full Name:

Simon Mathew Katich

DoB:

Thursday, August 21, 1975

Birthplace:

Middle Swan, WA

Teams:

WA, NSW

Test Debut:

v England at Leeds (Headingley), 2001

ODI Debut:

v Zimbabwe at Melbourne (MCG), 2001

Bats:

LH

Bowls:

SLA

Player Record:

link to stats

Lefthander Katich is probably the least intimidating batsman in the Australian line-up, though he's a hardworking player with a lovely sense of timing.

Katich is a quiet accumulator, whose virtue is patience rather than assertion, but he is a dangerous player in English conditions because of his extensive experience in county cricket.

At 29 he has finally become part of the regular XI after many years of frustration at being in and out of the side.

He made an unspectacular debut at Headingley in 2001 and was then overlooked for two years, returning to take 6-65 with his left-arm spin against Zimbabwe in the 2nd Test at Sydney.

Later that summer he made his maiden ton, against India, to earn a draw in the final match of the series and the last Test of Steve Waugh's career, in January 2004.

But still he did not cement a place and was dropped for the first two 2004 Tests against Sri Lanka, in favour of Andrew Symonds, an odd selectorial choice indeed.

Then, in Ricky Ponting's absence, he was elevated to number three against India back in October and made 99 in Australia's win in the 3rd Test, at Nagpur.

It was still not enough to seal a regular spot as Michael Clarke had emerged on that tour and Katich was overlooked for the homes series against New Zealand and Pakistan.

Better news followed when he toured New Zealand this year and scoring a hundred in the 1st Test. The ousting of Darren Lehmann has at last left a spot free and he finally appears to be a regular in the side.

Left-handed Simon Katich is a key Australian batsman because he's a no-frills get-the-job-done type of player who bats at a different pace to the more dynamic guys.

He and Damien Martyn are the Australian accumulators who are a bit more placid in their approach and give a nice balance to the batting order.

Katich will often have 40 on the board and you'll wonder how he made his runs because he doesn't play the amazing cover drives or big pull shots. But he gets the job done and he's the player who can have put together partnerships with the aggressive Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist.

As a character he's such a nice, placid guy off the field, but on the pitch he's a very tough cricketer who doesn't take a backward step

He'll be up for a big series because he's had a lot of time on the sidelines and desperately wants to be a regular in the Test side.