Ponting shocked over Katich’s omission
June 17th, 2011 - 6:52 pm ICT by IANSSydney, June 17 (IANS) Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting says he was shocked to know that Simon Katich was not offered a contract by Cricket Australia (CA).
Katich’s name did not feature in the list of 25 contracted players for 2011-12 season but the other seniors including Ponting and Michael Hussey made the cut.
The 35-year-old left-hand batsman expressed anger at CA’s decision and termed it “absolutely ridiculous”.
Ponting, 36, felt Katich’s outburst was understandable as he deserved to be in the list.
“It is fair to say he didn’t hold back in his press conference and rightly so as well,” Ponting was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald Friday.
“To be omitted from the contract list was a great shock to him. It was a shock to me. I was surprised that he wasn’t named.
“His performance in the last two or three years has been as good as anybody’s in the world.”
Ponting was not upfront when asked about the selectors’ decision but said he would have liked to play alongside Katich.
“You can make of that whatever you like (on selectors). I would have liked to have another old bloke around the group with me.
“It (Katich’s decision) puts us 36 year-olds on notice now, Mike Hussey and myself. It is going to make us work that little bit harder.”
- Selectors have committed atrocity against Katich: Minister - Jun 13, 2011
- Katich slams CA, denies Clarke's hand in sacking - Jun 10, 2011
- Ponting could be next after Katich, warns Warne - Jun 17, 2011
- Former players back Katich; why sack only him, asks Warne - Jun 09, 2011
- Katich resigns to his fate, says Cowan worthy successor - Dec 26, 2011
- Clarke not averse to recalling Katich in Australian team - Dec 16, 2011
- Katich among seven players to lose Australian contract - Jun 08, 2011
- Katich calls up Inverarity to check his name - Dec 17, 2011
- ACA endorses Katich's stand on part-time selectors - Jun 22, 2011
- Katich in top nick at SCG nets - Jul 20, 2011
- Spat with Clarke resulted in my axe, says Katich - Oct 28, 2011
- CA drops David Hussey, Bracken and Clark from contracted players list - Apr 07, 2010
- Ponting downplays likelihood of Mike Hussey playing WC 2011 - Mar 05, 2011
- CA divided over Ponting as captain after World Cup - Mar 22, 2011
- Katich seeking legal advice over CA hearing - Nov 01, 2011
Tags: anger, australian captain, bloke, captain ricky, cricket australia, hand batsman, left hand, little bit, michael hussey, mike hussey, morning herald, omission, outburst, ricky, selectors, seniors, shock, simon katich, sydney morning herald