Katich to captain Derbyshire
by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 25th January 2007
Australia batsman Simon Katich is to captain Derbyshire during the
forthcoming 2007 season, the English county announced Tuesday. Katich,
the captain of Australian state New South Wales, replaces all-rounder
Graeme Welch, who is stepping down after one season in charge to
concentrate on his own game.
"I have been fortunate to play under some great captains and have led
New South Wales so I intend to bring all that experience to Derbyshire
and carry on the progress the club made under Graeme," Katich said in a
statement.
Commenting on the county's new captain, coach Dave Houghton said:
"Graeme was an outstanding captain on and off the field for us last
year but in Simon we had a natural alternative and proven leader."
Katich, 31, has played 23 Tests and 45 one-day internationals for
Australia. But he has not featured at Test level since the 2005 home
series against the West Indies and his last one-dayer was also against
the West Indies, in Kuala Lumpur, in September.
The form of the likes of Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds and Michael
Clarke has seen Katich drop out of international contention but the
recent retirements of batsmen Justin Langer and Damien Martyn could yet
spark a revival in his Australia career.
Katich, who has also played for his native Western Australia, has had
plenty of experience of the English county game during spells with
Durham, Hampshire - where he played under Australia great Shane Warne
-and Yorkshire.
His arrival at Derbyshire means the Midlands county will have two
Australian overseas players in the 2007 season with Tasmania batsman
Travis Birt already on board at the County Ground.
Katich, an occasional left-arm spinner, has scored 1,260 Test runs at
an average of 36 with two centuries and averages just under 36 in
limited overs internationals. He also boasts an impressive first-class
record of 11,190 runs at a touch under 50 with 30 centuries and a best
of 228 not out.
Derbyshire finished fifth in the Second Division of the County
Championship last season when they broke their four-year run without a
home win in English cricket's first-class competition.
