Former Australian opening batsman Simon Katich is retiring from first class cricket.
Katich, 36, is in England playing county cricket with Hampshire.
He will play for the Perth Scorchers in the Champions League Twenty20 in October but will not return for the Big Bash or for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield and one-day competitions.
A Cricket Australia statement said Katich was looking to spend more time at home with his family.
"The WACA and Cricket NSW have provided wonderful cricketing environments and amazing opportunities for Simon to play under great coaches, with terrific players and surrounded by dedicated support staff," the statement said.
"He wishes to thank them all for the camaraderie and support over the last 16 years and for the chance to play in winning teams.
"With a young family and a desire for an extended time at home, Simon has decided it is time to reassess his priorities."
Little more than a year ago, Katich was seen as a crucial part of the national team, having played 56 Tests for Australia, opening the bat and scoring over 4,000 runs at an average of 45.03.
But he fell out with captain Michael Clarke after reportedly grabbing the new Test skipper by the throat in the dressing room. The incident led to Katich's axing from Cricket Australia's contract list.
He was reprimanded last December for publicly stating he would never be able to get back into the Australian side while Clarke remained on the selection panel.
Katich was replaced by, among others, fellow New South Wales team-mate Phil Hughes.
But despite the young opener's mediocre form, Katich was never recalled to the Test line-up.
He began his Sheffield Shield career with Western Australia but joined the Blues in 2002.
Katich was recently axed as Blues skipper as New South Wales looked to blood younger leaders, but he maintained his exemplary record in Sheffield Shield cricket, hitting 483 runs and averaging 43.90 last season.
The opener notched over 19,000 first class runs over his career.
"Simon's contribution to New South Wales cricket was quite simply outstanding," Cricket New South Wales chairman Harry Harinath said.
"Not only was he a superb batsman, with a state and international record to rival the best, but he was a brilliant leader who was respected by all who played with him," he said.
Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia First posted June 12, 2012 11:14:11
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