Achilles problem could rule Katich out of Ashes

But the 35-year-old opener is confident the injured right ankle won't force the end of his test career."Obviously my age will be a factor but I haven't looked at it like that in the last few years because the last two and a half years of my career have been my best regardless of my age," Katich said after Australia slumped to an innings and 71-run defeat at Adelaide. "So I don't see that as being the be-all and end-all of whether I make it back or not.

"There's obviously a lot of factors but I will do everything I can to try and play test cricket again."

Katich said he took confidence from his form since winning back his Australian spot after he was cut from the list of players on national contracts for a year in 2007.
"Three years ago, I was told I wasn't going to play again," he said.

Katich limped around the field and while he batted Monday. The injury first flared in the drawn Brisbane test.

"I went into this test feeling fine but unfortunately having spent that amount of time out in the field and chasing the balls that I did, it got to the point where it was pretty unbearable to just even be walking around," he said.The injury is a setback for Australia, with Katich forging a solid opening partnership with Shane Watson while much of the top order has struggled for consistency.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted the absence of Katich was a "big loss" with his team down 1-0 in the five-match series."He has been one of the leading openers in international cricket, certainly in test cricket, since he forced his way back into the team," Ponting said. "His record I'm sure would stack up against most other opening batsmen around the world."

Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said overnight scans made it obvious Katich would be unavailable for the next tests in Perth and Melbourne, at the very least.
"Achilles tendinopathy can be a complex injury. And based on Simon's current symptoms and results of a scan undertaken last night, it is unlikely that he will be available to play any further part in this series," said Kountouris, adding that the opener might be available "some time in the new year."