Katich snapped up by Oz Twenty20 Big Bash team Perth Scorchers

Melbourne, July 1(ANI): Dumped Australian opener Simon Katich has been signed by the Perth Scorchers for this year's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.

Katich, who was axed by Cricket Australia earlier last month despite his impressive returns in Tests over the past three years, will now play along with Marcus North, Shaun Marsh, Michael Hussey and Luke Pomersbach.

"I phoned him and the deal was done within half an hour. It was one of the cleanest and easiest deals I have done," The Age quoted Perth Scorchers coach Mickey Arthur, as saying.

"If he was going to be available for the whole tournament, that clarified my whole thinking on it, and just to get some tough experience back into the mix, I thought he was going to be a pretty shrewd signing."

"Also he will be helping our younger players, and that's key. Good teams are built around good characters, and he is one of those," he added.

Katich boasts a strong Twenty20 record - averaging 31.76 with a strike rate of 127.73, (ANI)