Katich out, Jaques in

[no_remorse28]

The National Selection Panel announced that in-form Blues opener Phil Jaques would be added to the Australian VB Series Squad for the one-day international against South Africa at Telstra Dome, Melbourne, on Friday.

Simon Katich sustained a groin injury during Australian team training at the Junction Oval, Melbourne in the lead-up to the clash with South Africa.

Australian team physio, Errol Alcott, said: "Simon sustained a low-grade groin injury. He'll have a diagnostic scan to find out the extent of his injury. Simon will undergo treatment and we'll review his situation ahead of Sunday's game in Sydney."

NSP Chairman, Trevor Hohns, said: "Phil Jaques will come into the squad and play in Friday's match at the Telstra Dome. The extent of Simon's injury is still unknown and this setback is bad luck for him. It does give us the opportunity to look at a specialist opener who has been performing well in both forms of the game. His record speaks for itself and this is a good opportunity for him."

Jaques is coming off a classy century against Victoria in their Pura Cup match in Lismore where he smashed 18 boundaries in his innings of 109. The 26-year-old left-hander recently made his Test debut for Australia and now gets his chance to shine in limited over game for his country.

 

[YOTC]

Why didn't they just say Simon Katich has no balls?

Biggest pussy cat going around (Excluding Cam Mooney )

 

[aussie1st]

Because the selectors plan on picking him again
I would love a Jaques and Gilly opening partnership. If Gilly isn't firing Jaques should be able to fire. And if both fire at the same time it will be dam entertaining to watch. It also means we have a left/right hand combo which the selectors would like.

 

[cricket doctor]

Katich is just like Langer IMO. Good for test matches, but there are more better players than him around in ODIs. Bad luck for Simon, but what can be done??

 

[James219]

Katich and Jaques seem to play similar games in appearance, although Jaques is more aggressive and instinctive. They both have slightly unorthodox techniques and have kind of relaxed, chest on stances and time well through the covers. Jaques' form is unbelievable he's scoring first class centuries almost weekly, then going back to sutherland and blitzing grade cricket, good to see him picked.

 

[YOTC]

Bad luck for simon? You have got to be joking. The guy has been doing nothing for a long time. Good riddens to bad rubbish.

Oh yeah and well done Jaques!

 

[aussie1st]

Thats how our openers should be performing like (Not Martyn's inns)
Now if only the rest of the batters would find some form with the bat. Ponting hasn't done anything, Symonds the same.

 

[cricket doctor]

I just get the feeling that Punter will be back with another bang. :happy

 

[James219]

Well no not bad luck to katich I've hated him for ages, I was just thinking that they played similarly. And usually in this Aus. team if others don't go on with it, one stands up. But heck if Symonds, Ponting and Clarke find some form then we're probably in for a very high scoring, one sided series...

And btw is Jacques playing in that twenty20 final today, wondering because of flying in and back to back games.

 

[kodos]

jaques isn't playing in the 20/20 final today at NSO. I agree Katich is a hack and Jaques is 10 times better. His innings justifies my opinion that he should of played in the Chappel Hadlee series and in the first 2 matches in the Vb series

 

[James219]

True. Don't really see much reason in persisting with Katich based on Jaques form and the fact that he's four years younger.
A loss to NSW that he isn't playing in 20/20 match although the tournament isn't that exciting, just a money-making business.

 

[aussie1st]

Don't know if he would have made a difference in 20/20. Oh well seeing Jaques performing for Aus is more important.

 

[James219]

Yea it wouldn't have made any difference especially keeping in mind Victoria's 223. And you can't just hold him back its much better for him to be representing Australia.