Simon Katich in Ashes

Simon Katich's 2005 Ashes campaign ended with a meek dismissal for one at the hands of Andrew Flintoff at The Oval; the fourth time England's talismanic allrounder had dislodged him in the series. Four years later, Katich commenced the Ashes with a century rounded out with an authoritative pull off Flintoff. Revenge has seldom tasted so sweet.Katich's torrid tours of England have been well documented - he was dropped from the Australian Test team shortly after the 2001 and 2005 Ashes series - but this is a batsman remodelled and renewed. Following the disappointment of four years ago, Katich undertook a series of private coaching sessions with Bob Simpson, the former Australian captain and coach, in which issues concerning footwork and balance at the crease were addressed.From those sessions has emerged a batsman of tremendous skill and tenacity, and a figure who, along with Ricky Ponting, has emerged as the most vital member of the Australian top-order. With Phillip Hughes still finding his feet on the international stage and Michael Hussey fighting to break free of a 12-month batting malaise, the Australians have looked to Katich to provide them with the kind of starts expected under the former Hayden-Langer regime, albeit at a time of great transition within the national team.