Quote Originally Posted by STL View Post
To compare Katich with Martyn though is unfair. Katich will never be as an attractive strokemaker as Martyn ever was. His innings aren't as well constructed as Martyn either. Martyn would keep the scoreboard turning over so non-chalantly that you were always surprised when you looked at hte scoreboard and wonder how he was already at 50 or 100. That made him damaging as a player and very important b/c he balanced the player at the other end who was either steamrolling along or struggling. He just kept things moving. Katich doesn't have that. Katich I don't think has a place in the Australian team in the long run either. Maybe for a few series but I think they like his record in India and need his grit in India b/c of just how tough conditions are.
Sorry I worded my statement a little wrong there.
By no means is Katich as classy as Martyn, nor does he have the shots that Martyn had, but he is the same in the fact that he will hang around and support the other batsmen, scoring (comparatively) slowly, to make sure he is around as long as possible. Katich would be much better in his support role in the middle order, being an opener does not afford him to play in the style he played so well in the Sheffield Shield.

Hussey on the other hand is a versatile player, much like Langer was, if he sees that Hayden is having a rip snorter he can reign himself in and support him, while if Hayden is struggling a little, Hussey can step up and dominate.

But I concur, Katich is a short term placement, and I personally believe that Jacques is not going to be around for a long time either, Rogers may be given another chance, but again I dont see him being a long term player. Not sure who will step up, will be watching the batting stocks in the Shield this year, as I think we have our fill of pace bowlers (Siddle, Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Noffke, Bracken and Bichel ) and our spins stocks are abysmal (Hauritz, Cullen, Bailey, Casson, Krezja).

I fear though that D. Hussey, Voges, and even Noffke will be mostly used as ODI players, like Hopes and Bracken.