Simon Katich calls time on his cricket career to make his mark on AFL

Simon Katich is swapping sports after bringing the curtain down on an 18-year playing career in cricket. The former Australia Test batsman, who has most recently been playing domestic cricket for Lancashire and Western Australia, has accepted a job as the player development co-ordinator with the Australian Rules football club Greater Western Sydney.

The 38-year-old’s last commitment in cricket comes with the Perth Scorchers at the forthcoming Big Bash competition, starting next month.
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Simon Katich is taking up a role in Australian Rules with Greater Western Sydney Giants (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He has taken on a part-time role with GWS, AFL’s newest team, immediately before it turns into a full-time role in the New Year.

“I’m grateful for my cricket career,” he said, having scored 20,926 first-class runs. “But, at the same time, to work in the AFL – a sport that I love – is something that I’m extremely excited about.

“I’ve had a good run, I can’t complain. To have played to 38 is something I never thought I’d ever do. So I’ve been very fortunate to play that long, 18 years in the game.”

Lancashire had not ruled out re-signing Katich as their overseas player for 2014 after he scored 1,097 County Championship runs in 2013, helping them to gain promotion back to Division One.

Western Australia coach Justin Langer, meanwhile, made no secret of his desire to see Katich return to Sheffield Shield action during the ongoing Australian domestic season after he had stepped in to play some Ryobi Cup matches for them last month.