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Craig HillSimon Katich Expects England To Recover
January 12th 2009 04:35
Australian Test opener Simon Katich says England has enough time to recover from the damaging Kevin Pietersen affair and launch a spirited Ashes challenge later this year.
The England camp is in disarray after Pietersen was sacked from the captaincy and coach Peter Moores dumped following a massive fallout between the pair.
With the Ashes just five months away, Andrew Strauss has been installed as skipper.
Katich, who captained English county side Derbyshire and also played for Durham and Hampshire, has watched the unfolding drama with interest but doubts the turmoil will enhance Australia's chances of a successful defence.
"It's been huge news but the Ashes are still a long way away," he said on Sunday.
"They've got a lot of cricket to be played and so have we."
"Anything can happen in that period and no doubt things will settle down now they've announced Strauss as captain."
Asked if Strauss was the right man for the job, Katich responded: "I think so. He's shown in the past that when he's been given the reins he's done a good job and his form recently has been good, which is probably another big factor."
"As a player, if you are confident in your own game it helps when you're captaining as well."
Katich has become Australia's accidental opener, hoisted to the top of the order when Matthew Hayden was injured in the West Indies then replacing Phil Jaques when the New South Welshman broke down in India.
Thirty-three-year-old Katich is now a first-choice pick after scoring heavily over the summer, but whether Hayden is at the other end for next month's tour of South Africa and the Ashes trip to England rests in the hands of the national selectors.
Katich, for one, hopes the veteran Queenslander is spared the axe.
"He's a champion. He's played for a long time and has an unbelievable record, so those of us that are now trying to fill his shoes at the top of the order (have) big shoes to fill," he said.
"It's been great opening with him and I look forward to seeing him hopefully continue."
"If he continues on then he's obviously going to have a crack at the Ashes because it's a huge tour and the last time we lost there, so he will be keen to make amends."
Left out of Australia's one day and Twenty20 squads, Katich returns to state cricket on Monday night when NSW hosts Tasmania in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash at ANZ Stadium.
He's looking forward to climbing out of the whites and reacquainting himself with the 'Baby Blues'.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my season last year playing the whole season with NSW and it's exciting (to be back)," Katich said.
"The boys have been doing really well, particularly in the Twenty20s, and it's nice to be back with all the youngsters."
Two of those young guns – power hitter Dave Warner (Australian twenty20 team) and in-form opener Phillip Hughes (injury) – will be missing for Monday's night's vital showdown with the Tigers.
The Blues need victory to keep the pressure on table leaders Victoria.
The England camp is in disarray after Pietersen was sacked from the captaincy and coach Peter Moores dumped following a massive fallout between the pair.
With the Ashes just five months away, Andrew Strauss has been installed as skipper.
Katich, who captained English county side Derbyshire and also played for Durham and Hampshire, has watched the unfolding drama with interest but doubts the turmoil will enhance Australia's chances of a successful defence.
"It's been huge news but the Ashes are still a long way away," he said on Sunday.
"They've got a lot of cricket to be played and so have we."
"Anything can happen in that period and no doubt things will settle down now they've announced Strauss as captain."
Asked if Strauss was the right man for the job, Katich responded: "I think so. He's shown in the past that when he's been given the reins he's done a good job and his form recently has been good, which is probably another big factor."
"As a player, if you are confident in your own game it helps when you're captaining as well."
Katich has become Australia's accidental opener, hoisted to the top of the order when Matthew Hayden was injured in the West Indies then replacing Phil Jaques when the New South Welshman broke down in India.
Thirty-three-year-old Katich is now a first-choice pick after scoring heavily over the summer, but whether Hayden is at the other end for next month's tour of South Africa and the Ashes trip to England rests in the hands of the national selectors.
Katich, for one, hopes the veteran Queenslander is spared the axe.
"He's a champion. He's played for a long time and has an unbelievable record, so those of us that are now trying to fill his shoes at the top of the order (have) big shoes to fill," he said.
"It's been great opening with him and I look forward to seeing him hopefully continue."
"If he continues on then he's obviously going to have a crack at the Ashes because it's a huge tour and the last time we lost there, so he will be keen to make amends."
Left out of Australia's one day and Twenty20 squads, Katich returns to state cricket on Monday night when NSW hosts Tasmania in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash at ANZ Stadium.
He's looking forward to climbing out of the whites and reacquainting himself with the 'Baby Blues'.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my season last year playing the whole season with NSW and it's exciting (to be back)," Katich said.
"The boys have been doing really well, particularly in the Twenty20s, and it's nice to be back with all the youngsters."
Two of those young guns – power hitter Dave Warner (Australian twenty20 team) and in-form opener Phillip Hughes (injury) – will be missing for Monday's night's vital showdown with the Tigers.
The Blues need victory to keep the pressure on table leaders Victoria.
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