Sydney, Aug.20 (ANI): Australian opener Simon Katich has candidly admitted that batters in the side possess specific weaknesses that they need to address on a priority basis in the run-up to this year's Ashes series Down Under.
Katich believes that the weaknesses have been there since the Australians lost the Ashes series to England in England in 2009.
Katich, arguably the most reliable of Australian batsmen since his recall to the team in 2008, said the problem would linger until the top six stood up fully to Test-match pressure.
"Being brutally honest, it's still been a problem because it's happened a couple of times since the Ashes last year," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Katich, as telling AAP.
"Until we can actually rectify that in a match that's going to be still hanging over our heads, and unfortunately you can't replicate it in the nets," he added.
He further said: "As much as you try, it's got to happen in Test matches when the pressure is on and there's big crowds there, which is no doubt going to happen during the Ashes this year."
Katich said it was vital to keep the team settled ahead of the first Ashes Test, albeit with a few concessions to the slow and spinning conditions likely to be faced across two Tests in India prior to the home summer.
"Once you string games together if you're playing well, once everyone's playing their roles, there's no doubt it helps the consistency of the team," he said.
"If you've got guys in and out, replacing blokes and in for a Test or two it does definitely change the dynamics," he added.
Australia's players fly to Brisbane on Saturday for a pre-season camp, where fitness testing will be mixed with sponsorship duties and planning for the summer ahead, starting with the Indian assignment. (ANI)
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