Simon Katich has put the cover on the past and announces his support for the uncapped
Phillip Hughes as the man to help lead Australia out of the doldrums.
The 36-year-old crushed no words when he slam the selectors for axing him from the annual list of nationally- agreement players in June, accusing the
Andrew Hilditch-led panel of favoring possible over form in picking players.
Katich has been like a run-machine for Australia for fairly some time. However, he unfortunately had to miss the last three Tests of the doomed Ashes campaign after being ruled out with an Achilles injury.
His replacement, the 22-year-old Hughes, is infamous for his suspected weakness against quality seamers. He failed to position up to the rigours of England's quicks for second consecutive Ashes but was however satisfied with a contract.
Rising above the rancor, Katich insist Hughes has the probable to repay the faith of the selectors.
"He knows how to make runs. He knows how to make big scores," Katich said of Hughes, who averaged 16 in three Tests next to England, in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph.
"He's previously made 16 first-class hundreds, which is no mean achievement for a player of his age. I think he'll be better for the little off period he had last year.
"All batsmen go throughout it at some stage during their career. You have to become familiar and get better and he'll do that, I have no doubt. Phil works firm and he's a good kid," he said.
Despite backing the very small Hughes, Katich has return to his State side, New South Wales, and has not written off his probability of making a return to the Australian Test side after being before written off.
The selection panel he answerable, in part, for Australia's 3-1 loss to England, will be revamp in line with recommendation of a self-governing team presentation review released last week.
The new-look panel will include Captain
Michael Clarke and a new coach with better powers to be chosen, while being led by a full-time head to put back disliked
chairman Hilditch, who acted in a part-time capacity.
Head of youth expansion
Greg Chappell will also give up his role as a full-time selector as part of the shake-up.
"I was told four years ago they were never going to pick me yet again and I got back in, so you never know," said Katich.
He added: "The same guys who told me that are no longer in their jobs, so it's a bit ironical they've been given the brush. I have the same approach I had four years ago. I'm just going to enjoy my cricket with New South Wales."
Former top dogs, Australia, who have slip to fifth in the
ICC world Test rankings, play fourth-ranked Sri Lanka in the first Test of a three-match series starting August 31 in Galle.
Gaji
