Melbourne: Former Australian opening batsman Mark Waugh has paid rich tributes to Simon Katich, who Tuesday announced his retirement from first class cricket, saying he should be remembered as one of Australian cricket's best.

"He's got a very good record both at first-class and Test level at the top of the order, so he should be remembered as one of our best players," Waugh was quoted as saying by The Age.

"He was definitely unlucky. I don't think he should have got dropped. His record was better than a few of the guys that were in that team ahead of him.

"I think it was his age and maybe because he's unfashionable, maybe that's the reason he did get dropped.

"If you go purely on statistics he should not have got dropped when he did, he was our most consistent player at the top of the order and his previous couple of years were outstanding," he said. (IANS)