Melbourne: Australian captain Michael Clarke has felt a need of the senior opener batsman Simon Katich and is behind a push to bring the batsman back to the Australian Test team for the upcoming series against India.
The claim, made in a report on Channel Nine last night, comes as Australia seeks to address its batting woes after the embarrassing defeat against New Zealand in Hobart.
”If the report on Channel Nine that Michael Clarke and the selectors are talking about Simon for Test cricket [is true], whether it be Boxing Day or any other day, Simon would be very excited and I would be very excited for him,” the batsman’s manager, Robert Joske, said.
Katich was left out of Cricket Australia’s list of contracted players at the start of the year and had cited a run-in with Clarke in the dressing rooms following the 2009 Sydney Test as a reason for his dumping.
Clarke has denied the claims and may now even be pushing for Katich’s return to the side at the age of 36, if the reports are true.
“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.”
Hughes is likely to be dropped for the start of the India series, while Usman Khawaja is also under pressure to retain his place in the batting order. Australia coach Mickey Arthur has suggested there are no plans to oust veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey at this stage.
Shane Watson is still struggling with injury and is not expected to bowl if he is selected for the Boxing Day Test. That could open up a place in the team for fellow allrounder Dan Christian, particularly if Watson returns to his position at the top of the order.
Western Australia batsman Shaun Marsh is likely to miss the Boxing Day Test through injury.
