Sydney, Jun 17 (IANS): Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting says he was shocked to know that Simon Katich was not offered a contract by Cricket Australia (CA).

Katich's name did not feature in the list of 25 contracted players for 2011-12 season but the other seniors including Ponting and Michael Hussey made the cut.

The 35-year-old left-hand batsman expressed anger at CA's decision and termed it "absolutely ridiculous".

Ponting, 36, felt Katich's outburst was understandable as he deserved to be in the list.

"It is fair to say he didn't hold back in his press conference and rightly so as well," Ponting was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald Friday.

"To be omitted from the contract list was a great shock to him. It was a shock to me. I was surprised that he wasn't named.

"His performance in the last two or three years has been as good as anybody's in the world."

Ponting was not upfront when asked about the selectors' decision but said he would have liked to play alongside Katich.

"You can make of that whatever you like (on selectors). I would have liked to have another old bloke around the group with me.

"It (Katich's decision) puts us 36 year-olds on notice now, Mike Hussey and myself. It is going to make us work that little bit harder."