Not unlike fellow tourist Brad Hodge, Simon Katich's first-class record is enough in itself to disquiet England fans.

A character much admired by team-mates and opponents alike, the Western Australian does not conform to the outright aggression which so characterises this team's attitude to batting.

Rather he is more adept at working the ball around and relies on a distinguished if understated timing rather than overt force, and it is these skills which have long marked out Katich as a future international regular.

Having made the breakthrough for his home state at the age of 20, the 6ft left-hander progressed as expected and played a starring role in their 1999 Sheffield Shield success.

The contraction of chicken pox and a subsequent mystery virus robbed Katich of the chance to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka that year.

Having missed the international boat for the immediate future, he made the most of the year 2000 by joining Durham in the county championship.

After a prolific summer in the north-east and a successful return to the domestic scene in his homeland, Katich earned a place on the 2001 Ashes tour and made that long-awaited bow at Headingley, the only Test the visitors were to lose in the series.

Though he could hardly be blamed for that defeat, his failure to make an impression once given a rare chance was to herald another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

A switch to New South Wales, where he is also captain, on the domestic scene meant that a return to the Test team at the SCG two years later was one made on home soil.

He responded by taking 6-65 with his left-arm slow bowling against Zimbabwe and played four Tests against the Indians before appearing in seven consecutive games away to India and Sri Lanka.

Only one century on the subcontinent did little to further his reputation from strong to indispensable and he was afforded little chance to shine in the recent 2-0 win over New Zealand, batting only three times in as many Tests though making a 118 in the process.

As a consequence Katich arrives with plenty to prove to himself and those in charge of the Australian team, but he is another example of a player England would have put to far greater use in a superb 10-year career.