Simon Katich is eager to exploit his unexpected opportunity to feature in another Ashes series.

Katich is keen to replicate his recent success as an international opener in English conditions.

The 33-year-old left-hander struggled as much as any of Australia's top-order batsmen four years ago as England's formidable attack utilised traditional and reverse swing to claim their first Ashes triumph since 1986-7.

"It is a bonus to be back" 

Thenin the middle order, Katich scored only two half-centuries and averaged only 27.56 in the series, and lost his place in Australia's line-up just two Tests after they returned a beaten side.

But he has since reinvented himself as a highly-successful Test opener, seizing on the opening created by Matthew Hayden's retirement to enjoy a staggeringly consistent sequence of scores which have established him as a major threat to England's Ashes hopes.

"Obviously last time (2005) was a disappointment, but at the same time it is a bonus to be back," admitted Katich.

"If I had been asked three or four years ago I probably wouldn't have thought I would make it back on another tour - it's nice to have fought back and be here and I just want to enjoy it."

"I know it's going to be tough"

Katich's transformation has been highly impressive and in the last 15 successive Tests - including home and away series against South Africa - he has averaged 54.19 having scored five centuries and passed 50 a further seven times.

Attempting to continue that run of success against the swinging ball in English conditions, though, will be an even bigger challenge - particularly as he tries to nurse 20-year-old opening partner Phil Hughes through his first Ashes series.

"The role is totally different to last time and I've enjoyed the challenge in the last 12 months of batting at the top of the order because that's where I've played a lot of my first-class cricket," he said.

"I know it's going to be tough wherever you bat, but I do feel comfortable opening the batting. In general, opening the batting is obviously about laying a platform for the rest of the order.

"Particularly over here, getting through that new-ball period is going to be vital to set up some big scores for us. We understand that's the extra responsibility that goes with opening."

Playing alongside such a novice opening partner as Hughes could be an added burden for Katich, but their success during the recent series win in South Africa suggests Australia may have found another pair to rival the success of Hayden and Justin Langer.

In three Tests together earlier this year, their opening partnership averaged 65.33 and following Hughes' successful spell with Middlesex earlier this summer, when he averaged 143 from three championship matches, Katich has no fears about his ability to cope with an Ashes series.

"I expect him to play a big part," claimed Katich. "He was outstanding for us out in South Africa.

"He has settled in beautifully to Test cricket because it was a tough challenge for him coming up against a very good South African attack in some tricky conditions and I think he handled himself beautifully.

"He proved in his month or so with Middlesex that he was able to adapt quickly. It's a different level but at the same time it's his first time in England and he's gone out there and peeled off plenty of runs.

"He's got that hunger, he's got the desire and he's got a great temperament and I'd expect him to have a good series.

"I just let him go and hopefully hang in there at the other end with him. We really enjoy batting together, we've done that a lot over the last two years with New South Wales and also now for Australia.

"We're probably a little bit different in the way we stand at the crease but hopefully our styles compliment each other and we can play a big role in this series."

Australia's full Test squad trained together for the first time on Thursday at Kent's Beckenham ground and will gradually build up before their 12-a-side match with Sussex starting at Hove on June 24.