Simon Katich admits he is desperate to erase the bitter memories of his last Ashes tour as the Australia batsman bids to make the most of an unexpected return to England
Simon Katich admits he is desperate to erase the bitter memories of his last Ashes tour as the Australia batsman bids to make the most of an unexpected return to England.
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The 33-year-old suffered a miserable time during Australia's 2-1 Ashes defeat against England four years ago.
Then a middle-order batsman, Katich scored only two half-centuries and averaged 27.56 in the series before losing his place in Australia's line-up.
He would never have expected a second crack at an Ashes trip after that painful experience, but itu00a0proved to be the catalyst for Katich to reinvent himself as a highly-successful Test opener.
The left-hander took advantage of the opening created by Matthew Hayden's retirement to enjoy an impressive run of form which has established him as a major threat to England's Ashes hopes.
With Australia's full Test squad training together for the first time on Thursday at Kent's Beckenham ground as they build up to their 12-a-side match with Sussex starting at Hove on June 24, Katich can't wait for the first Test to begin in Cardiff on July 8.
"Obviously last time (2005) was a disappointment, but at the same time it is a bonus to be back," Katich said.
"If I had been asked three or four years ago I probably wouldn't have thought I would make it back on another tour - it's nice to have fought back and be here and I just want to enjoy it."
In the last 15 successive Tests - including home and away series against South Africa - Katich has averaged 54.19 having scored five centuries and passed 50 a further seven times.
"The role is totally different to last time and I've enjoyed the challenge in the last 12 months of batting at the top of the order because that's where I've played a lot of my first-class cricket," he said.
"I know it's going to be tough wherever you bat, but I do feel comfortable opening the batting.
"In general, opening the batting is obviously about laying a platform for the rest of the order.
"Particularly over here, getting through that new-ball period is going to be vital to set up some big scores for us. We understand that's the extra responsibility that goes with opening."
Playing alongside young opening partner Phil Hughes could be an added burden for Katich, but their success during the recent series win in South Africa suggests Australia may have found another pair to rival the success of Hayden and Justin Langer.
"I expect him to play a big part. He was outstanding for us out in South Africa," Katich said.
"He has settled in beautifully to Test cricket because it was a tough challenge for him coming up against a very good South African attack in some tricky conditions and I think he handled himself beautifully.
"He proved in his month or so with Middlesex that he was able to adapt quickly. It's a different level but at the same time it's his first time in England and he's gone out there and peeled off plenty of runs.
"He's got that hunger, he's got the desire and he's got a great temperament and I'd expect him to have a good series.
"I just let him go and hopefully hang in there at the other end with him. We really enjoy batting together, we've done that a lot over the last two years with New South Wales and also now for Australia.
"We're probably a little bit different in the way we stand at the crease but hopefully our styles compliment each other and we can play a big role in this series."
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