Friday, July 8, 2011

Aussies clear air over Katich dumping

Posted July 8, 2011 17:25:00

A frank player meeting called by Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has cleared the air after Simon Katich's controversial axing ahead of their tour of Sri Lanka.

The fall-out over the veteran Test opener's inglorious dumping threatened to distract the team ahead of next month's tour.

After missing out on a Cricket Australia (CA) contract, Katich sensationally revealed there was unease within the Test team about selection decisions, while Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson expressed their surprise over the opener's treatment.

But Clarke claimed every player was on the same page ahead of the Sri Lankan tour after starting an Australian training camp in Brisbane with an honesty session.

"We had a couple of really good meetings on Sunday night, which were really open in an environment where guys were comfortable to voice their opinion," he said.

"It was a closed environment which gave everyone the freedom to be themselves and say what they feel, get everything on the table - it was very positive.

"I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to say what they had to say and take it on board - as a group, we can now work together.

"We all walked out of that looking forward to what was in front of us."

Australian coach Tim Nielsen admitted this week Katich's axing was a clear sign national selectors wanted to "regenerate" the team.

But Clarke said players will not be "looking over their shoulder" on the Sri Lankan tour, where he will make his debut as full-time Test captain.

"Not at all. The boys are now feeling very comfortable," he said.

"What has come from this camp is not only some hard work but everyone getting behind each other to work toward our goal of having as much success as we can.

"Unfortunately in this game, some people do get dropped but it is about supporting your mates and getting the best out of your team."

Australia will play two Twenty20s, five one-dayers and three Tests in Sri Lanka from August.

The T20 and ODI squads have been named, but the Test squad will not be announced until later this month.

T20 players fly out on July 30 and the remaining one-day squad members on August 5.

Clarke hopes the Sri Lankan tour starts a new era in Australian cricket, especially with former players Steve Rixon, Craig McDermott and Justin Langer added to the coaching staff.

This followed a sweeping CA review of the cricket team and operations in light of the resounding Ashes' loss.

"We've got some new coaching staff and some new exciting youngsters in the squad," Clarke said.

"I guess it is a new start and we are all looking forward to getting as much success in all three forms as we can."

One of the youngsters singled out by Clarke is young quick James Pattinson, named in both the one-day and T20 squads for Sri Lanka.

The 21-year-old has already made his ODI debut in Bangladesh in April, taking 1-39.

"He looks much fitter and stronger than he did in Bangladesh and I thought he did pretty well over there - he has a bright future," Clarke said.

- AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, sri-lanka


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