Katich pushes Test claims with ton
Simon Katich hopes he's done enough to prove he still belongs in the Test arena after a classy century for Australia on the opening day of the tour match against a Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI.
Katich made 116 off 118 balls with 17 fours and two sixes as Australia made a monstrous 6-484 at the Colombo Cricket Club.
For an incumbent Test player that would normally mean a start in the next Test.
But with Darren Lehmann returning from injury to make an eccentric century and Andrew Symonds pushing for inclusion on the back of his great one-day form, Katich isn't sure he'll face Sri Lanka in Galle next week.
The trio is in a three-way race for the No.5 and No.6 batting spots and Katich said he'd kept on eye on the selection debate, especially the push for Symonds.
"Andy's done really well so I can understand that but I haven't done much wrong because I haven't played much in the last month," Katich said.
"Any of us would be unlucky to miss out but that's the selectors' decision - all you can do as a player is keep playing well. Hopefully I can play another Test."
Physique aside, Katich and Lehmann have plenty in common.
The left-handers have excellent credentials to take on Sri Lanka in this part of the world - each is adept against spinners and each offers excellent part-time spin bowling.
Katich got his most recent call-up only when Lehmann tore a calf muscle against Zimbabwe and at the moment feels he still has prove himself as a Test player despite match-saving knocks of 125 and 77 not out in the fourth Test against India at the SCG.
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