Katich waits on injury

Simon Katich will have to wait until Tuesday morning to discover whether he has any chance of playing in the third Ashes Test after suffering a painful Achilles injury. Katich is in extreme doubt for the game in Perth from December 16 after hobbling his way through the past two days in Adelaide.

Alex Kountouris, the team physio, will review the scans with specialists on Tuesday to determine what happens next to the 35-year-old. It is a particularly worrying time for Katich to pick up such a serious injury as he is reaching the end of his career and any missed Tests would provide an opportunity for a young player such as Phillip Hughes.

The problem forced Katich to run like he was barefoot on boiling bitumen during his brave 43, after he refused all sorts of offers for assistance from his team-mates. "It was an inspirational performance really," Michael Hussey said. "In the field I was trying to get him to go to gully and he wouldn't have a bar of that, he wanted to stay out in the field. We were trying to get him in the slips, he wouldn't go to the slips. His stubbornness is a big characteristic of him."

Katich eventually ended up at first slip and caught Kevin Pietersen for his career-best 227. Hussey also suggested opening to give Katich extra rest. "He said, 'Nah, I'll make sure I'm there, it's my job, I've got to do it'," Hussey said.

Australia required a strong start as they chased the 375 needed to make England bat again and Katich put on 84 with Shane Watson for the first wicket. He was caught short without facing a ball in the first innings and declined a runner despite the relief it would have provided. The pain was particularly nasty when he had to sprint.

"I'm not exactly sure on the extent of the injury, but it obviously doesn't look too good," Hussey said. "Hopefully he can recover pretty quickly."

England also had a scare when Stuart Broad complained of a stomach muscle problem, but he was able to bowl in the nets during tea and returned to the field in the final session. The tourists will need all the help they can get on the last day as they rotate their four specialists and Paul Collingwood.