Hardened warriors about to hit 50
The Age
Friday March 26, 2010
AUSTRALIA'S Mike Hussey and Simon Katich are preparing for their 50th Tests. New Zealand's Kane Williamson is close to his first €” but the Kiwis have made the stunning admission they're scared of playing him on a green-top pitch at Seddon Park tomorrow because it might be too hard for him.There's some nice symmetry to Hussey and Katich reaching their milestone together. They played together as little tackers. Katich was best man at Hussey's wedding. They're a pair of hardened warriors who Australian captain Ricky Ponting will back to the hilt under any circumstance.The same cannot be said of Kiwi coach Mark Greatbatch's attitude towards Williamson, 19."Dry conditions and a dryish wicket were reasons why we started talking about Kane," Greatbatch said. "We got to Hamilton yesterday and what we were expecting, and what we played on earlier in the season, was not what we saw yesterday. There's quite a lot of grass on the wicket. For his selection for this game, the conditions will have to be right for him, on the dryish side, and that looks unlikely at the moment."Hussey and Katich have made runs on green tops, bone-dry tops, every kind of pitch-tops."We were playing under-12s and under-13s against each other and now to be playing for Australia, and to be playing 50 Tests together €” plus 'Katto' being the best man at my wedding €” it is pretty special," Hussey said."I remember playing a grand final, under-13s, against each other and Simon's mum made a cake for both teams to celebrate after the game. We all shared this big chocolate cake. That's one thing I remember about the Katich family."Katich and Hussey declined to nominate their retirement dates but Katich offered words of encouragement to Test opener-in-waiting Phillip Hughes.Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch believes Hughes could also bat in the middle order if there is a vacancy. "The short answer is yes," Hilditch said. "We've picked him predominantly to play at the top of the order . . . so I'm not saying it would be ideal, but if we were on a tour and an opportunity presented I don't think there is much doubt he could do it." Shane Watson is expected to replace Hughes for the second Test after recovering from a hip injury.
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