Cricket-Katich resolve stoked by 2005 Ashes flop

LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - The last time Simon Katich played a test series in England, Australia lost and he subsequently spent three years out of the team.

Four years on, Katich is back as a key member of the national side with an added determination to succeed.

Katich, 33, who has since reinvented himself as an opener, batted at number six for four of the five tests in 2005 when England won the Ashes for the first time in 18 years. He scored just 248 runs at a meagre 27.55.

"If you had told me after the 2005 series that I would be back four years later I would have laughed," Katich told Reuters.

"And having got dropped soon after I guess there would be a few people who would have agreed."

"It was probably a good thing for me to get out of that environment and go away, work on things and enjoy my cricket to help me fight my way back.

"Part of me knew there was a chance it could all be over because you never know if an opportunity will come again. I certainly didn't want to go out on that note and part of me knew that if I went out and tried to make a heap of runs you never know."

EXPERIENCE PAYS

One thing that gave left-hander Katich hope of a recall was the fact Australian selectors had a record for going back to experienced players, even if they had been out of the team for a prolonged period. Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn all enjoyed their best years after being dropped.