Australian cricketer Simon Katich ends playing career

Former Australian Test and one-day opener Simon Katich announced his retirement Saturday from T20s, thus ending his career as a player in all forms of the game.

Katich had retired from Australian first-class cricket in June 2012, but had continued playing county cricket until 2013, and had led the Perth Scorchers to the Big Bash League title last season.

He had also participated in a few Ryobi Cup matches in October 2013.

Katich told media here that he felt the time was right to hang up his gloves and boots permanently, and added that it felt good to end his cricket on a high note.

Katich will retire with immediate effect. He played 118 T20 games and scored 2483 runs at an average of 30.28 and a strike-rate of 126.61. Of these, three were internationals for Australia.

He played T20s in England for Derbyshire, Hampshire and Lancashire and for New South Wales in Australia. He also played for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL in 2008 and 2009 and for Duronto Rajshahi in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2013, apart from his 37 appearances for Scorchers.

In 2013, Katich accepted the position of player development co-ordinator with the AFL team, Greater Western Sydney.

Justin Langer, the Perth Scorchers coach and Katich's former team-mate, said he was happy Katich could retire on a high, and added that his contribution to Western Australian and Australian cricket had been immense.

He also praised Katich for his strong leadership, honesty and fierce competitive spirit.

Katich played 56 Tests and 45 ODIs between 2001 and 2010 for Australia.

Australia's Ashes series loss to England in 2010-11 sparked a call for change. Katich lost his Cricket Australia contract a few months later, ending his chances of playing more Tests.

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said last year that the decision to drop Katich from the Test side was a mistake.