Buzz Down Under over Katich omission

Simon Katich8217;s surprise omission from the Cricket Australia8217;s list of 25 contracted players has prompted outrage from his state with a senior New South Wales official questioning the credibility of the selection process.

Simon Katich8217;s surprise omission from the Cricket Australia8217;s list of 25 contracted players has prompted outrage from his state with a senior New South Wales official questioning the credibility of the selection process.

8220;Simon Katich continues to be one of the best performed batsmen in Australian first-class and one-day cricket and his sacking beggars belief,8221; New South Wales chief executive Dave Gilbert said.

8220;With the retirements of Justin Langer and Damien Martyn, his sacking is even more bewildering and seriously questions the credibility of the selection process8221; Gilbert was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper.

With Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath also retiring, only Katich and veteran Queensland paceman Michael Kasprowicz had their contracts discontinued. Young South Australian leg-spinner Cullen Bailey was one of six new names on the list. The others were West Australian batsmen Chris Rogers and Adam Voges, exciting Tasmanian swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and all-rounders James Hopes from Queensland and Cameron White from Victoria.

Jason Gillespie, 32, was retained as one of seven pace bowlers, despite playing little international cricket since fading on the Ashes tour almost two years ago. With the retirement of McGrath, the experience of his former Test new-ball partner is clearly considered an asset.

Bailey and young off-spinner Dan Cullen, who was lucky to retain his contract after a poor season, are among four spinners in the squad.

But the debate that has surfaced is whether Brad Hogg should challenge Stuart MacGill for a Test place next summer after left-arm chinaman bowler had such an impressive World Cup. Hogg claimed 21 wickets at an average of 16 in 11 matches, but Darren Lehmann has dismissed suggestions that one-day form should be given serious consideration while choosing a Test team.

Story continues below this ad

The former Australia vice-captain believes that if the selectors take the unlikely step of overlooking MacGill, they should consider blooding Bailey or Cullen.

8220;Stuart MacGill8217;s Test record is second to none amongst the current players now that Warney has retired, so I8217;d like to think they8217;d go to him first,8221; Lehmann said. 8220;But I8217;m not a selector and I8217;m not sure which way they would go,8217; he said adding 8220;a lot may depend on how players start the season but there were times in recent seasons when Hoggy didn8217;t play four-day cricket for WA.8221;