By Kevin Howells BBC Sport

Three weeks is all Yorkshire's stand-in overseas player will have to reignite his batting this summer and similar words could be said of his new team-mates if they're to avoid an awkward and difficult fight against relegation.

For for Simon Katich, the 26-year old from Australia, the scenario he entered at Headingley is far from the one he would have expected when first approached by last season's county champions.

Katich is the third left-handed Aussie to be signed up by Yorkshire following Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann.

He is standing in for Lehmann, while the latter plays against Pakistan back at home.

On first meeting, Katich has a personality that strikes you as somewhere in-between his predecessors - not quite as intense as Bevan nor as upfront as Lehmann but as approachable as both.

Katich did well for Durham during the 2000 season

Getting going has not been easy, as he told 'Yorkshire Uncovered'.

"As a batter, its hard getting used to the pace of the wickets and spending time in the middle has proved difficult. Coming from Perth, the pitches there are quicker."

He may be back later this summer if what appears an unlikely tour to Pakistan takes place for Australia but in the meantime it's head down for more hard work.

Certainly time in the middle has been in short supply and it didn't help being run out for nought in his Norwich Union League debut game against Worcestershire.

That was Katich's first time back at the ground where last summer he played his one and only Test match so far against England, when Steve Waugh was injured.

Receiving his 'baggy green' at Headingley

Once of Western Australia, where his coach was once Yorkshire's Wayne Clark, next season he will play for New South Wales.

"I certainly had to think long and hard about the move. I grew up and have played all my cricket in Western Australia and it's been tough leaving my teammates behind.

"Moving like that doesn't happen very often although it is starting to happen more now."

No matter how well the short visit goes for Katich, he's very happy to be back at Headingley where he received his baggy green cap last August.

I did point out that England won that match but, with a raised eyebrow, he insisted: "It was still a great memory for me, I was so proud. We certainly did lose the match but Mark Butcher's innings was very good."

Time in England is of great benefit to overseas batsmen and their education in the game, but just at the moment Katich is in a county side unable to offer too many words of wisdom.

Yorkshire Uncovered can be heard fortnightly on Thursdays on BBC Radio Five Live's Ian Payne Show (7.00-10.00pm). Next instalment: 20 June.