Katich hits form but misses century

Jamaica XI 297 and 11 for 0 trail Australians 396 (Katich 97, Symonds 86, Haddin 64) by 88 runs
Scorecard

Simon Katich struck form at the right time, but he was unable to seal his return to national colours with a century as he fell three runs short on the second day of the tour match against a Jamaica XI. With Michael Clarke missing the first Test due to family reasons, Katich confirmed his place as the Australians completed a strong warm-up by posting 396.

Katich took his time once he resumed on 35 and kept the innings together after losing Phil Jaques for 48, Ricky Ponting for 17 and Michael Hussey for 19. While Ponting and Hussey missed out on long stays, Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin took advantage of the conditions with half-centuries in an energetic 145-run stand.

Symonds collected 86 while Haddin, who will make his Test debut at Sabina Park on Thursday, picked up a confidence-boosting 64. However, the day was most important for Katich, especially after Brad Hodge, the other contender to replace Clarke, did not make a major impact.

Katich seemed set for three figures, but he missed the milestone when aiming the spinner Lorenzo Ingram towards midwicket, where Xavier Marshall collected a fine diving take in the outfield. Donovan Sinclair was the most successful bowler, finishing off the innings with 3 for 14, while Andre Russell and Nikita Miller picked up two each.

Katich was pleased to make use of his only opportunity to get used to the Caribbean conditions before the first Test. "It was just nice to get out there and play some cricket, get a few runs and spend some time out in the middle," Katich told AAP.

"It's always disappointing not to get a hundred, but that's the way it goes, and at the end of the day, it was nice to spend some time out of the middle and get a few runs, so I can't complain too much. It's just nice to be able to go out there and know I'm playing well and have confidence in my game."

The hosts reached 11 for 0 at the close, and in their brief stint in the field the Australians wore their baggy green caps after being criticised for having a sponsor's hat on during the first innings. Cricket Australia said that because Haddin did not yet have a baggy green - he will receive it on the first morning of the Kingston Test - the team decided in the interests of uniformity to wear their blue training caps, which bear the sponsor's logo.

But following some media criticism the board said in the future a 'fitted green' cap may be developed so that players who have not yet represented Australia in Test cricket can have a similar look to their Test counterparts. Haddin wore a white hat on the second day.