'The monkey will never be off my back' - Katich

Simon Katich has survived a season of torment and as he contemplated the most important innings of his one-day career there were times when he struggled to speak. The push for Phil Jaques that became a stampede over the past month has forced Katich to carry stress like a t-shirt, and when he reached his century on the way to the 2-1 VB Series finals victory in Brisbane on Tuesday it all came off.

In a summer of wild celebrations as Australian players fuelled themselves on showing up the skeptics, Katich's yelling and fist-pumping effort as he stepped almost to the boundary was probably the most intense. "I stared straight down the barrel and thanked my family because they have been fantastic support," he said after the game through groans, heavy breathing and cramps caused by the heat and missing dinner. "It's been a tough six months and without them I wouldn't have been able to hang in there. It's one thing I've managed to do this summer - hang in there."

Katich knows he is not the prettiest or most powerful batsman in the side, but he also understands he's been a success in his role as a bookend perched next to explosive partners. It is a position that has earned him four half-centuries, Tuesday night's 107 from 142 balls and 413 runs in the series at 45.88. Only Adam Gilchrist collected more in the tournament.

"My performances don't stack up with the rest of the guys and that's no shock to anyone," he said. "I've hung in all summer, it's a real testament to my character with the amount of pressure that's been put on. Sometimes it's been justified and sometimes it hasn't."

The cries and campaigns boomed after Jaques made 94 on debut in Melbourne, switching the focus to Katich's bower-bird collecting at a strike-rate of 65. The left-handers are state team-mates and one-day opening partners for New South Wales, but their bond was stretched as Jaques became the media's favourite flavour. They spoke about the awkwardness of the situation at the Allan Border Medal and Jaques, who missed today's one-day squad, sent Katich a congratulatory text message after the third final.

Despite his maiden ODI century, Katich will not head to South Africa for the five-match one-day series expecting respite. "The monkey will never be off my back because if I don't make runs in the next couple of games it will be there again," he said. "It's pretty obvious. I do always try my best, sometimes it doesn't happen."

Katich has had difficulty sleeping during a home season that began with his dropping from the Test team and included regular and lengthy autopsies of his still-kicking batting. The extreme focus has not changed his method even though he admits he hasn't been at his peak.

"I've been relatively consistent and I know I don't get off to a quick start, but I'm doing a job for the team, trying to get them off to a relatively stable start," Katich said. "I'm only trying to do what the game plan is and the team feedback I've got so far is that people have been relatively happy with me. I know I haven't been at my best, I have kept working and this was my reward. If I get back to my best I know I can play at this level."