Ponting shocked by Katich dumping
Former Test skipper Ricky Ponting has said he was shocked by Cricket
Australia's decision to dump senior batsman Simon Katich from its list
of 25 contracted players.
Ponting said Katich was also within his rights to criticise his
treatment by the selectors and Cricket Australia (CA) in comments he
made during a press conference last week.
Katich, a 56-Test veteran, said he was stunned to be told last week
that he had been cut from Cricket Australia's 25-man list of contracted
players for the 2011-12 season, despite being one of the country's most
consistent performers. The 35-year-old opening batsman said the decision
was "absolutely ridiculous" and Ponting said Katich's criticism was
warranted. "It's fair to say he didn't hold back in his press conference
and rightly so as well," Ponting said on a television sports programme
Thursday.
"To be omitted from the contract list was a great shock to him. It
was a shock to me.
"I was surprised that he wasn't named.
"His performance in the last two or three years has been as good as
anybody's in the world." SYDNEY, AFP |