Katich Response Arrogant | Thebigtip

Is there such a thing as good arrogance and bad arrogance? I would never have believed it, however, the more we see jaded sports people clinging to what little they have left to offer, highlights that maybe there are varying degrees of arrogance.

Cases in point. The "Waugh" era of Australian cricket oozed arrogance. What Steve Waugh brought to the Australian dressing room was a level of confidence and ruthlessness not seen since the Bradman era. A healthy combination of fierce competitiveness, an unwavering belief that never knew the smell of defeat and a desire to perform for your country like it was war. Some say that the Waugh era took gamesmanship too far. Waugh's prescribed "mental disintergration" tactics was lowering the gentile nature of the sport and a "win at all costs" attitude was damaging the reputation of the team.

But I disagree. Waugh's passion for cricket and cricketing rivalry was played out the only way he saw fit. After all, he was issued the captaincy by Cricket Australia and subsequently he delivered. The arrogance born from such success was healthy. Good arrogance. No one individual was bigger than the team itself. Shane Warne may have indicated on various occasions that he was but only ever on a personal level. There were'nt many better team men than Warne the cricketer.

With the new announcement of the CA contracts for players for the 2011-2012 season, one notable ommision from the list has come out swinging at his axing and it must be said that it was not a good look.

Simon Katich has every reason to feel personally agrieved and also, like everyone else, has the righjt of reply. His numbers in the last 12 months have been healthy and he has been reasonably consistent in an under performing team. However, obvious changes were required in order to construct a test team for the future and Katich's omission was absolutely neccessary.

Looking at the list of candidates on face value, Katich, Mike Hussey and Ponting didn't have age on their side but lets face it. Katich is no Ponting or Hussey. Although, statistically he has performed a little better than his colleagues over the last year, he doesn't possess the freakish abilities that may one day get the urn returned. As an opening bat, he became too accustomed to only getting half the job done. Great at getting himself set and weathering the new ball storm but once set, never kicking on to demoralise opposition. Granted, his team mates with bat in hand have been guilty of the same crimes in recent times, but too many scores between 30 odd and the very low hundreds indicates an inability to make a statement.

It us understandable fo Katich to vent his anger towards the selection panel. They have under performed as much as the team itself but some clarity regarding the team aspect would have been much more warranted and noble. During the Waugh era, Darren "boof" Lehmann offered to step aside to make way for Michael Clarke to be returned to the team. Obviously Lehmann had the presence of mind to understand that the team needed injections of youth in order to maintain a level of success. Team first. Player second. Surely Katich identifies that the batting order needs to be rejuvinated, if so, he did not let on.

Katich had the opportunity to reflect on a very good career, pay homage to his mentors and his team mates and wish the incumbents all the very best of luck. But instead, he launched into a self indulgent tirade against the establishment. Not a good way to bow out and be remembered. We all at some time get our marching orders, but the dignity lies in how we respond, not what we have achieved.