Katich in frame for WA return

Simon Katich could return to Western Australia next season and Peter Nevill or Tom Triffitt keep for the Warriors in a dramatic shake-up under rookie coach Lachlan Stevens.

While the WACA have asked for permission to speak to both Nevill and Triffitt as they attempt to find a replacement for New Zealand-bound Luke Ronchi, Katich is considering walking away from his NSW contract to see out his career in WA.

The former Test opener, who started his career with the Warriors in 1996-97, is not likely to make a decision on his future until after he completes his county commitments with Hampshire.

Katich will play for the Blues in the one-dayer at the WACA Ground today after concussion forced him to miss the Sheffield Shield match against WA.

He could not be contacted yesterday but is understood to have told teammates that his six-week stint with the Perth Scorchers this summer provided some of the most enjoyable cricket of his career.

Stevens said Katich, who would be 37 at the start of next season and is the 18th-highest run-scorer in shield history with 8765 runs at 55.47, would be a welcome addition to a WA squad that has started to develop a winning culture.

“If Simon Katich comes to us and says he wants to come back to Western Australia to play a season you would be silly not to use a man of his experience and his calibre,” Stevens said.

“We wait and see what happens post-season.”

Katich’s potential departure could also help NSW address a likely salary cap dilemma next season with a large group of players, including Doug Bollinger, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Nathan Hauritz, at risk of losing their Cricket Australia contracts.

Even with the retirements of Stuart Clark, Phil Jaques and Beau Casson and likely elevation of David Warner and Mitchell Starc, NSW may find it tough to accommodate all those players under the State salary cap.

Nevill is NSW’s leading runscorer this season but was dropped for the shield match against WA when Brad Haddin returned to the team.

Triffitt is Tasmania’s back-up gloveman but may be squeezed out of the Tigers team should Tim Paine regain full fitness next season.

The emergence of Matthew Wade as Australia’s first-choice one-day keeper and potential Test gloveman could force Haddin and Paine to become full-time State players next summer with subsequent impact on the next tier of keepers.

“We will have to look at all options but that is not to discount our own two young players in (Sam) Whiteman and (Cam) Bancroft,” Stevens said. “The door is not shut on any player here.

“Triffitt is a very good young player who has won a shield in Tasmania.