Simon Matthew Katich (born 21 August 1975) is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. A left-handed opening batsman and part-time left-arm unorthodox spin bowler, he represented Australia in 56 Test matches between 2001 and 2011. Katich also had an extensive domestic career across Australia and England, and later moved into coaching and broadcasting.
| Full name | Simon Matthew Katich |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 August 1975 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Batting style | Left-handed (opening batsman) |
| Bowling style | Left-arm unorthodox spin (part-time) |
| Test career | 2001–2011 (56 Tests) |
| State sides | Western Australia, New South Wales |
| County sides | Derbyshire, Lancashire |
| IPL franchise | Kings XI Punjab |
| Major honour | 2006 ICC Champions Trophy winner (Australia) |
Katich was born on 21 August 1975 and began his first-class career representing his birth state of Western Australia, before later moving to New South Wales, whom he went on to captain.
Katich made his Test debut for Australia in 2001 and played 56 Test matches for the national side until 2011. He was a member of the Australian squad that won the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.
After beginning with Western Australia, Katich moved to New South Wales, where he served as captain. He announced his retirement from first-class cricket in Australia on 12 June 2012, but returned to play for Western Australia in 2013.
In England, Katich played for Lancashire and for Derbyshire, captaining Derbyshire until the end of the 2007 season.
Katich featured in the Indian Premier League, representing Kings XI Punjab.
In August 2019, Katich was appointed as the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. He was present at the 2020 IPL Player Auction held in Kolkata in December 2019. Alongside coaching, he has worked as a cricket commentator for SEN Radio and the Seven Network.
Katich's career spanned over a decade of international cricket and included captaincy roles at state and county levels, as well as participation in major franchise tournaments. His subsequent transition to coaching with an IPL franchise and to commentary work reflects a continued involvement with the sport beyond his playing days.