Mature Katich ready to replace Lehmann

Simon Katich, the favourite for the No. 6 Test spot, is confident he has developed the maturity to succeed at the highest level. Facing a friendly fight with Brad Hodge for the vacancy left by Darren Lehmann's shoulder surgery, Katich was yesterday picked in the 13-man Test squad and felt ready to perform.

The past 18 months have been difficult for Katich. He has looked on the verge of sealing a place only to be dropped and asked to force his way back. Andrew Symonds was preferred during the first two Tests in Sri Lanka in 2004 and Katich performed credibly batting at No. 3 in India when Ricky Ponting was injured, but was dumped for the series against New Zealand. After playing 13 Tests and 14 ODIs, including two as opener in the current series, Katich said he has adapted to the international game's demands.

"When I think back to 1999 I don't think I was ready," Katich told The Australian of his first Sri Lanka tour, where he suffered from chicken pox. "I don't think I've really matured in terms of developing my game until the last couple of years."

Katich said even though he was 29 he was young in international terms, and was able to cope with the disappointment of missing out. "In the last 18 months I feel I've been really happy with the way I've progressed," he told the Courier Mail. "I didn't think that it would never happen again, but you also think 'what happens if everyone plays really well for a year or two?'"

The first Test starts at Christchurch on Thursday.