Durban (S. Africa), Oct. 29 : Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has said he had nothing to do with the axing of opener Simon Katich from the national contracted players list, and added that Katich''s latest outburst were not good for the team''s morale, and therefore, he wouldn''t be rushing to bring him back into the national squad.

Melbourne, Sep 15: Dumped Australian opening batsman Simon Katich doubts that changes to the Cricket Australia (CA) selection panel following the recommendations made by the `Argus Review' will alter his situation.

Katich was dropped from the list of CA's contracted players earlier this year despite being one of the team's most consistent performers.

"Who is in charge is I don't think not going to make too much difference to my situation," Fox Sports quoted Katich, as saying.

Australian left handed batsman Simon Katich has scored 106 runs against the New Zealand as Australian team scored 333 runs for loss of four wickets in the second inning at the close of play on the third day of the second test match at Hamilton on Monday.

Australia today resumed their inning from overnight score of 35 runs without any loss of wicket. Shane Watson (65) was the first batsman to return to the pavilion at the team score of 85 runs. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting did not last long and returned to pavilion at individual score of 6 runs.

Sydney, Jan 1 : Australia's opening batsman Simon Katich said Pakistan can prove to be a dangerous opponent on the slow Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) track in the second Test starting Sunday.

Being the New South Wales captain, Katich knows the SCG track better than anyone else in the side and says that the wicket is expected to take some turn.

Pakistan is considering recalling leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to play alongside off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in Sydney.

Sydney, Jan 1 : After forging an unexpectedly strong Test opening partnership with Simon Katich, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is keen to establish himself as a regular opener.

Since being thrown together with Katich following Phillip Hughes' axing during last year's Ashes, Watson has scored 716 runs at an average of 65. The Katich-Watson combination averages 71 and has given Australia a solid foundation at the start of each innings.

Sydney, Nov 24 : Australian opener Simon Katich has said that a debate may rage over the long-term future of Shane Watson as a Test opener, but the all rounder is the best of the current lot.

"He (Watson) has put his hand up for it and no doubt wants it. His technique is suited to batting at the top of the order. He likes to be aggressive and put the bowlers under pressure," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Katich, as saying.

Sydney, Nov. 12 : Australian opener Simon Katich has said he expects fellow New South Wales opening partner Phillip Hughes to make a comeback to the Test squad against the West Indies, and a push down the order for current opener Shane Watson.

Katich, who is preparing for the first Test against the West Indies to be played in Brisbane later this month, believes that Hughes has benefited from the experience of being dumped and will make his comeback count, both in the short and long term.

Hyderabad, Oct 23: New South Wales's success in the ongoing mega-rich Champions League is being given to skipper Simon Katich, who is believed to be the brain behind the Blues' revolutionary tactics.

One of the main tactics used by Katich was to unsettle opposition bowlers by using the combination of right hand and left hand batsmen at crease. He made it sure that once one of the openers is dismissed, there is a left-hand, right-hand combination at the crease for most of the remaining overs.

The Australian domestic teams New South Wales and Victoria Bushrangers will lock horns in the first semi-final of the cash rich and lucrative T20 Champions League in Delhi on Wednesday.

NSW led by Simon Katich have won all matches in the league stage and they have lost just one match in the super eight round against Trinidad & Tobago.

Kieron Pollard of Trinidad and Tobago had smashed 54 runs in 18 balls in that match to lead his team to four wickets win.

An impressive batting performance by Australian batsmen in the first test match of the Ashes series against England has led three batsmen to jump to their career-best rankings in the latest ICC test rankings for batsmen.

Simon Katich, Marcus North and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin have scored tons in the first test match as Australia declared their first innings at 674-6, which resulted into big jumps in their test rankings.

Australia finished the second day at 249 runs with loss of one wicket as both Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich slammed unbeaten centuries and put the Australia in commanding position in the first test match of the Ashes series at Cardiff.

Ponting scored unbeaten 100 runs with 8 boundaries while Katich smashed 8 boundaries in 104 runs to put up a partnership of 189 runs for the second wicket.

The only batsman who got out was P Huges who was dismissed by Andrew Flintoff at the individual score of 36 runs, while all the other bowlers remained wicket less.

London, July 8 : Australian batsman Simon Katich, who is Phillip Hughes's captain at New South Wales, has said that he had initially doubted the then 18-year-old's Hughes talent in 2007.

Katich said he and Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert had heated arguments over Hughes in 2007, where Katich believed that Hughes was not ready for first-class cricket - as he could not handle the short ball, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

However, when Hughes scored an undefeated 51 on Sheffield Shield debut, Katich's fears were dispelled.

Cardiff (Wales), July 7 : For Australian opener Simon Katich, participating in an Ashes tour is all about fighting back.

Revealing that captain Ricky Ponting and coach Tim Nielsen have introduced a ritual within the Australian team, in which each player is asked to tell his teammates why the Ashes is special, Katich recalls that he has been telling his mates of a past that has left deep scars, but one that has helped him to become a more resilient character.

In 2001, he made 15 on debut, filling in when Steve Waugh tore a calf muscle, and did not play again for more than two years.

Melbourne, Mar 14 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is happy to bowl part time bowler Simon Katich in occasional short spells as he did on the final day of the second Test when his team needed to end the resistance from South Africa's lower order.

Reluctant Katich is happy to bowl. And, in the process he helped win the second Test and the series.

Ponting threw Katich the ball in Durban and the opening batman took three wickets. The pair had appeared to be involved in a strange standoff until then, FOX Sports reported.

Johannesburg, Feb. 23 : Australian opener Simon Katich has acknowledged that South Africa's fast bowlers led by Dale Steyn can once again be too hot to handle in the forthcoming series, but hastens to add that the Aussies have their measure.

"He''s (Steyn) obviously up there at the moment. In terms of pace, he''s probably one of the quickest going around, apart from Brett (Lee) when he''s fully fit. You throw in the other couple as well. They''ve got a well-balanced attack," Fox Sports quoted Katich, as saying.

Melbourne, Jan 11 (ANI): Australian Test opening batsman Simon Katich expects that the turmoil surrounding the England team to settle down under newly-appointed skipper Andrew Strauss and doubts it will impact on this year's Ashes series.

English cricket has undergone a turbulent week with previous skipper Kevin Pietersen resigning and coach Peter Moores sacked following a rift between the two men, FOX Sports reported.

Sydney, Dec. 6: Australian opener and New South Wales captain Simon Katich believes that Ricky Ponting will opt for a spinning option during the first Test against South Africa to be played at the WACA in Perth from December 17.

"Generally in the past we have played a spinner in Perth. Whether it''s been Stuey MacGill, Beau Casson or Nathan Hauritz. Whoever it is, we generally like to play one as it adds balance to the attack," news. com. au quoted Katich, as saying.