Simon Katich is officially Muttiah Muralitharan's bunny.

No Australian batsman will be happier to see the back of the Sri Lankan spinner than the left-hander following the Super Test.

He was utterly bamboozled again by the man with the rubbery action who has left the NSW batsman at the mercy of national selectors.

Murali has dismissed Katich three times in two Tests and the Australian's other departure was trying to get off strike against the spinning maestro in the first innings on Friday.

It comes after the controversial off-spinner ended both of Katich's innings in the one-day series in Melbourne earlier this month.

But Sunday was arguably the cruellest of their encounters with the contest showing shades of Shane Warne's torment of South African Daryll Cullinan.

Katich (2) almost ran himself out for the second time in the match with a streaky single off Murali at the beginning of his 22-ball stay.

However a run out would have proved a possibly kinder outcome to Katich who in the course of an over looked clueless against the world's second leading Test wicket-taker.

The former West Australian should have been stumped off the first delivery before swinging and missing the following two balls.

He was put out of his misery next ball as he got a leading edge and the cat-like bowler pounced for the catch.

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