Big Bash League: Simon Katich’s role in Keaton Jennings, Matthew Hurst signings revealed

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Big Bash League: Simon Katich’s role in Keaton Jennings, Matthew Hurst signings revealed

When English imports Keaton Jennings and Matthew Hurst walk onto Optus Stadium in orange on Sunday night, Perth Scorchers fans will have inaugural captain Simon Katich to thank.

Katich coached the Manchester Originals in The Hundred, where Hurst had a breakout campaign.

Months later, he is lapping up Perth’s summer sun and ready to come out swinging in his Scorchers debut alongside skipper Ashton Turner and Perth sensation Cooper Connolly who were both passed fit to play on Sunday.

Katich, a former Test opener and early-era Scorchers great, is a part of the club’s network of international scouts.

It’s an informal position, but one that has been pivotal in recruiting overseas stars and chasing diamonds in the rough.

“The last year or two, it’s been quite informal, and all it means now is I’ll have a chat with Kade at the end of The Hundred season; he’ll ask me about players in England, and we’ll talk through some of the players we’ve seen there,” Katich told 7NEWS.

However, a simple word from the humble puppet master has had a heavy influence over the years, with the Scorchers recruiting 19 of their 25 imports from England, including Laurie Evans, Liam Livingstone, Zac Crawley and Jason Roy, just to name a few in recent campaigns.

“England have had a lot of success in the white-ball game in the last five or six years, so I’d be crazy not to look at their players for the BBL,” Katich said.

“I sort of knew Liam Livingstone from my Lancashire days when I played there back in, I think 2013, and I saw him as a kid.

“I liked the way he played spin and the way he took the game on, and as a result of that, we thought, let’s take the punt on him.

“The Scorchers have a proud history of giving opportunities to players who might not have the highest profile at the time, but we know they can come in and do a role for us, and Liam did that. Both he and Jason Roy had successful stints with us.”

Katich’s latest signing brain child Hurst, set to take the gloves in place of Josh Inglis against the Stars on Sunday night, needed just six matches in The Hundred this year to impress the experienced coach.

The emerging 21-year-old blasted 149 runs at 24.83 in the blink-and-you-miss-it new format.

“I spoke to Kat; he was my head coach at the Manchester Originals. He spoke to me and was like, ‘you have got potential; put your name in and see what happens,’ and it was great to know that your head coach has got the confidence that you have got the ability to come out here and play well and be expected to perform,” Hurst told The West ***********.

“I really enjoyed him; I think he is a really good coach. We didn’t have the best of years in The Hundred campaign, which can happen in this type of format, sometimes it just goes wrong because it is so intense and short.

“But I really enjoyed Kat; I got on with him really well, and I think the lads loved him back at home.

Camera IconLiam Livingstone of the Scorchers. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“It’s really exciting to be picked up here and try and perform on the big stage, especially in front of the expected 40,000 people.”

Katich said he had no doubts Hurst would impact for the Scorchers and added he more than passed the team’s famous character criteria.

“What stood out to me was that our captain Phil Salt had played with him at Lancashire, and obviously Phil’s in the England set-up and recently captained the white-ball team, and I trusted his judgement, gave him a couple of games, and he didn’t let us down,” he said.

“He probably played the knock of the tournament against a highly experienced Superchargers team that had probably had about five international bowlers… and he got about 70 off 40 ****** under pressure, so he’s a very good young player.

“He plays spin well, he also handles the quicks really well, and in the next game after that, I think he got 50 off about 25 against Spencer Johnson, so he can handle himself.

“What I liked most about him was what I saw in the nets. He’s tough; he didn’t shirk the issue on some dodgy wickets, and the other thing that stood out was that he was a good learner.”

Perth skipper said Turner said he wasn’t upset Inglis was not released from Test duty backing in his “strong” squad.

“At the end of the day, we want to see our teammates get picked to play for Australia and be in international squads, and we’re really proud of Josh,” he said.

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