Katich in line for a shock recall

Captain Clarke wants to reinstate opener for India series.

SYDNEY:

Opener Simon Katich could be in line for a shock recall to Australia’s Test team, according to media reports, just weeks after being disciplined for outspoken comments about captain Michael Clarke.

The 36-year-old was reprimanded by a Cricket Australia (CA) hearing after he accused Clarke of playing a part in his axing from the Australian team. Katich was dropped from the CA contract list in June and said he doubted he would play for Australia again as long as Clarke was captain.

But reports have emerged that Clarke was now behind a push to reinstate Katich as the team looks to address batting woes. Katich’s manager Robert Joske said the player would be ‘willing and ready’ to join the team if selectors recalled him for the Boxing Day Test.

“If Clarke is talking about Katich in selection meetings, I’m sure Katich would be excited when he hears about it,” said Joske. “The coach and the chairman of selectors said the door was always open and now is a good time for him to walk through it.”

Tendulkar sacrifices century

Elsewhere, Sachin Tendulkar sacrificed a century to give teammates crucial batting time ahead of the Test series in their drawn tour match against the Chairman’s XI. Tendulkar retired on 92 in the tourists’ 320 for six on the final day of their two-day match.

India’s total was in reply to the Chairman’s XI 398 for six declared. VVS Laxman retired on 57, while Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 56.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2011.