Rod Marsh says Australia must pick Simon Katich for Test

Former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh said on Sunday it would be a tragedy if batsman Simon Katich was not selected to replace injured captain Steve Waugh in the eleven for the fourth Ashes Test starting on Thursday.

Australia have an unbeatable 3-0 lead over home team England, winning the Ashes for a seventh consecutive time.

Waugh, 36, has been ruled out of the fourth cricket Test with a calf injury and is aiming to return in the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting on August 23.

Selectors must choose between two left-handers from Western Australia state, the out-of-form number three Justin Langer and uncapped middle order batsman Katich, to replace Waugh.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist will take over as stand-in captain.

Marsh said with the Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, nearing the end of their careers and the series victory achieved, it was time to play Katich, 26, whose career has been interrupted by illness in recent years.

"If he had played in the last 18 months or so I would have picked him to be Australia's next captain," Marsh said in an interview aired on Australian television on Sunday.

"I think it will be a tragedy if Simon Katich doesn't play in this next Test match. It's the perfect opportunity to introduce some youth."

Coaching Role
Marsh, head coach at the Australian Institute of Sport's Cricket Academy in Adelaide, South Australia state, has played a major role in helping Australia be the world's leading cricket nation.

The veteran of 96 tests from 1970 to 1984 and former Australian vice-captain will take up a coaching role with the new English academy later this year.

The man who once called English club bowlers "pie-throwers" said he had been involved in ongoing discussions with English cricket authorities for two years in helping them establish an academy.

Marsh said he had wanted the top coaching role to go to an Englishman.

"They came back to me and said: 'sorry, we can't find and Englishman, will you do it?," Marsh said.

"Australian cricket is in pretty good shape...I've never been one to shy away from a challenge.

"The biggest problem with English cricket is they can't beat Australia, simple as that.

"I may not ever know how to fix it but I will give it 100 percent."

Asked if any English players would win a place in the Australian team, Marsh said: "There wouldn't be too many who would make it I would think."

Marsh said he would work with the Australian academy for two more months before starting his new role with the old enemy, who would be based in Adelaide for six months.

"At this stage they haven't got anything built yet," Marsh said.

"I'll go to England for the second six months and hopefully be back here (in Adelaide with the English academy squad) for the third six months."

Mail Cricket Editor