Katich feels pressure of state rivalry

Simon Katich knows three opening batsmen can't cram into two places, but he is prepared to adjust to stay at the top of Australia's order. Phil Jaques has been thundering for a spot after making 94 on debut, but Katich eased some of the pressure, which has been so strong this summer he has had trouble sleeping, by making 52 in Australia's five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Adelaide last night.

Believing his only role for Australia is at Nos. 1 or 2, Katich said after the match he knew he had not been in great form during the season. "But I've hung in and kept fighting hard," Katich told AAP. "[The conditions at Adelaide] helped me a little bit because I didn't have to worry too much about the run rate.

"Our plan was to make sure we didn't lose too many wickets and just bat, so that helped me out. But there's going to be days when we're chasing 300 and I'll have to play a different role, so hopefully that's something I can adjust to."

As the New South Wales captain Katich has found the tussle with Jaques, his state team-mate, difficult, but he has another chance to hold on to the national spot in Sunday's match against Sri Lanka at Perth. "I've talked [Jaques] up as best a NSW captain can," he said. "It's hard to do, but I also think my form for NSW in the last two or three years has been pretty consistent as well, so it's just a matter of replicating that at Australian level."