Simon Katich

He may not be elegant or a dasher but what he lacks in talent, Simon Katich more than makes up with his determination. Of Croatian descent, Katich made his debut for Western Australia in the 1996-97 season and the following year, played a major role in his team’s Sheffield Shield success - scoring 1039 runs. He has also plied his trade for New South Wales, as well as represented certain English counties.

The year 2001 marked Katich’s Test debut in Australia’s Ashes tour to England. He failed to impress and was dropped, but made a spectacular return in 2003 against Zimbabwe with a half-century and figures of 6 for 65. Katich’s best performance, however, came against India in the fourth Test at Sydney in the ‘Border- Gavaskar’ Trophy, where his 125 and 77* in the second innings proved pivotal in Australia’s escape from a certain series defeat. He consequently opened in ODIs but was criticized for his slow scoring rate. Even after being handed numerous chances, ‘Kat’ did not do much to justify the possibility of his inclusion in Australia’s ODI set-up.

However, the hardworking batsman made a comeback in Tests with renewed vigour and since the summer of 2008, averaged above 50. Equally adept in batting at the top or in the middle-order, Katich was also one of Australia’s better players of spin bowling. A good cutter of the ball, he had a tendency to shuffle back and across the stumps to make room on the leg side. In 2011, Katich was shockingly denied a Cricket Australia contract, which signaled the near end of his career. The following year, he announced his retirement from first-class cricket. However, he returned to play Twenty20 cricket with the Perth Scorchers, going into the Big Bash League and the Champions LeagueT20.