Cricket Australias New Contract List...No Katich

[brod]

Anyone else wanna have a crack...

Simon Katich's contentious removal from the 25-man list of Cricket Australia contracts has moved the federal defence minister, Stephen Smith, to make his own unbridled attack on the national selectors.

"Well historically of course there have been a series of atrocities committed by the Australian Cricket Board or Cricket Australia or the Australian selectors against Western Australian cricketers but this one is extraordinary. This one is very high at the top of the list," Smith said.

"I mean this is a bloke who over the last 30 Tests he's played has got nearly 3,000 runs, an average of 50 and done better than Ponting and Mike Hussey.

"So it's an extraordinary decision. And regrettably whilst it's always easy to take a shot at selectors I think it says a lot more about the selectors than it does about Simon Katich and I think frankly it has sent very much a message which has undermined confidence in the selectors that they're really up to the task in terms of managing a transition to the next generation of Australian cricketers.

[Media Park]

Now if Kate Ellis had had a crack, being the Sports minister, fair enough...

[brod]

Shaun Marsh, the West Australian batsman, has said he wants to claim the Australian Test opener's berth left vacant by the removal of Simon Katich from Cricket Australia's contracts list.

"I'm sure Phil Hughes will get the first crack. He played in the last Test match in the Ashes, so I'm sure he will get another crack there and try and cement his place," Marsh told AAP.

"But if they wanted me to open, I'm ready. I feel as though my game's at a really good stage now. I've been really consistent over the last few seasons in all formats. If I get the opportunity, I feel as though I'm ready to go.

"I'm pretty versatile in the batting order. I've shown I can open the batting and I can bat down at No.6 as well."

[Dutchy]

Why wouldnt have Jacques got a gig?

[Booney]

Robert Craddock mounted a very good argument on The Back Page last night, hard to convince yourself Katich was worthy of a contract when the countrys premier cricket writer and journo clearly believes the selectors got it right leaving Katich out.

Strongly believes with Ponting and Hussey going in the next 12-18 months the side could hardly afford to lose three 35+ year olds in one hit. Does Katich get a gig ahead of either Ponting or Hussey? Not in my view.

Katich rightly upset, but the selectors, for the first time in a while seem to have got this one right.

[Media Park]

Zaheer Khan has weighed in and blames Greg Chappell... Appears a tad bitter IMO

[Rik E Boy]

Robert Craddock mounted a very good argument on The Back Page last night, hard to convince yourself Katich was worthy of a contract when the countrys premier cricket writer and journo clearly believes the selectors got it right leaving Katich out.

Strongly believes with Ponting and Hussey going in the next 12-18 months the side could hardly afford to lose three 35+ year olds in one hit. Does Katich get a gig ahead of either Ponting or Hussey? Not in my view.

Katich rightly upset, but the selectors, for the first time in a while seem to have got this one right.

I'm a big Kat fan but it's hard to argue with this. Personally I reckon Punter is gone, at least at Test level but I find the outrage over the Kat's omission to be a bit puzzling. I believe not that Kat is unlucky but Huss and Punter are very lucky. As for not being able to afford to lose all three at one hit we are already shite so we should have done just that and gone the clean out.

regards,

REB

[Lightning McQueen]

Robert Craddock mounted a very good argument on The Back Page last night, hard to convince yourself Katich was worthy of a contract when the countrys premier cricket writer and journo clearly believes the selectors got it right leaving Katich out.

Strongly believes with Ponting and Hussey going in the next 12-18 months the side could hardly afford to lose three 35+ year olds in one hit. Does Katich get a gig ahead of either Ponting or Hussey? Not in my view.

Katich rightly upset, but the selectors, for the first time in a while seem to have got this one right.

I'm a big Kat fan but it's hard to argue with this. Personally I reckon Punter is gone, at least at Test level but I find the outrage over the Kat's omission to be a bit puzzling. I believe not that Kat is unlucky but Huss and Punter are very lucky. As for not being able to afford to lose all three at one hit we are already shite so we should have done just that and gone the clean out.

regards,

REB

I don't mind a bit of Kat myself.