Katich's Rapid Rise To Captain Pm's Xi

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday November 25, 1999

Western Australian batsman Simon Katich played down the significance yesterday of being named captain of the Prime Minister's XI to play India in Canberra on December 7.

Traditionally the Australian skipper has led the PM's team since it returned to the cricket calender in 1983, but Steve Waugh was unavailable due to commitments with the national team, with the uncapped Katich getting the nod instead.

The appointment is another step in a rapid rise for the quietly-spoken 24-year-old, whose 1039 first-class runs last season netted him a lucrative ACB contract and saw him selected for the recent tour of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Despite his relative inexperience, Katich has already been identified as captaincy material, having led a Cricket Academy tour of South Africa, regularly captained his grade side and been vice-captain of his state.

He - along with West Australian team-mate Adam Gilchrist - has already been touted as a future captain of Australia, but Katich said yesterday such talk was highly speculative and not in his best interests.

``I think of myself as just a batsman still - and I'm trying to do that to the best of my abilities for WA," he said.

``It is a bit frustrating (to be touted as a future national captain) and I've already copped a fair bit from opposition sides about it.

``However, I don't put any added pressure on myself with what I read in the papers and hear in the media."

Katich played in the corresponding match last season, in which Waugh was captain, and said it was a highly enjoyable day.

In sound form in Sheffield Shield cricket with 148 runs at 37 this season, Katich said he was looking forward to doing better with the willow this time around and he welcomed the added responsibilities of leadership.

``I haven't done it that often, but when I do captain sides, I certainly enjoy it," he said.

``It makes you think about the game more and I will do the job to the best of my ability and hopefully it will work out well."

THE TEAM

Simon Katich (WA capt), Shane Lee (NSW), Graham Cunningham (ACT), David Fitzgerald (SA), Brad Haddin (NSW), Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge (Vic), Michael Hussey (WA), Brett Lee (NSW), Daniel Marsh (Tas), Andrew Symonds (Qld), Brad Williams (WA).