Aussies drop Katich, recall Symonds for 2nd Windies Test

SYDNEY—Australia dropped struggling batsman Simon Katich and gave all-rounder Andrew Symonds a chance to revive his Test career as selectors named a 12-man squad for the second Test against the West Indies.
Victorian middle order batsman Brad Hodge was called in to replace Katich, who has scored just three runs from his past four Test innings and was a weak link in Australia’s otherwise dominant 379-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test.
Captain Ricky Ponting admitted this week that the team was “carrying” Katich but selectors decided enough was enough.
“Simon’s form has not been what he expects of himself and we felt it was time to give someone else an opportunity,” chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Thursday.
“Brad Hodge has been a very high-scoring player for Victoria for many years and we believe he can do that at Test level”.
It is the third time Katich has been axed during his 23-Test career but Hohns said he could still force his way back if he scored enough runs in domestic cricket.
Symonds will replace injured all-rounder Shane Watson, adding to the two Test caps he earned in March last year in Sri Lanka.
Hohns said Symonds had impressed with 163 off 183 balls for Queensland last week in a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.
“Symonds has been in red-hot form with the bat and his medium pace and off-spin adds a lot of options to the bowling attack,” Hohns said. “He thoroughly deserves his opportunity at Test level again”.
It is a major comeback for Symonds, who was in the doghouse during the tour of England in June when he turned up for a training session with the Australian one-day squad under the influence of alcohol.
The 12-man Australian squad for the second of three cricket Tests against the West Indies starting at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on November 17: Ricky Ponting (Captain), Adam Gilchrist (Vice-Captain), Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne.—Agencies