Clarke spat ruined my Test career: Katich
Roar Guru By Adrian Warren, 29 Oct 2011
- Tagged:
- Australian Cricket, Cricket, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Test cricket
Former Test opener Simon Katich says his infamous dressing-room spat with Michael Clarke in 2009 will prevent him ever playing again for Australia.
Katich was embroiled in an altercation with Clarke following the Sydney Test against South Africa in January, 2009, where he reportedly grabbed the new Test skipper by the throat in the dressing room.
The 36-year-old NSW batsman says that incident was a key factor behind his dumping from Cricket Australia’s contract list in June.
And he feels it will continue to prevent an international comeback despite newly-appointed chairman of selectors John Inverarity saying the “the book is closed on nobody” when asked about Katich earlier on Friday.
Katich, who scored 110 for NSW in their drawn Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, revealed his thoughts at the conclusion of that match at the SCG on Friday.
“It’s pleasing to hear but I think you don’t have to be Einstein to figure out it’s not just the selectors that had a part in sending me on my way, so that’s one of those things,” Katich said when asked about Inverarity’s comments.
Asked who else played a part, Katich said: “To be brutally honest what happened in the dressing room here a few years ago probably didn’t help my cause.
“Obviously the captain and coach are selectors, so just because he’s going to be chairman of selectors, or whatever role it is, I wouldn’t have thought that that’ll make too much difference.”
Katich said he had not spoken to Clarke about the incident.
Asked if he thought he would be part of the team while Clarke is still there, Katich said: “I wouldn’t have thought so, because that’s probably why I’m in this position in the first place.”
He said he hadn’t spoken to anyone from Cricket Australia about the controversial press conference following his axing.
“No one from Cricket Australia has been in contact with me since (June), when I did the press conference here no one’s still been in touch, not one person,” Katich said.
He said he didn’t feel the need to raise anything with either CA or Clarke.
“I’ve moved on from everything but just to think that no one’s been in touch since that happened, it’s pretty disrespectful,” Katich said.
“I think from my personal point of view, given that I’ve been contracted for 11 years and to not have any contact whatsoever, that’s pretty disappointing.”
He hoped some good would come of the changes to the selection process recommended by the Argus report and his own experiences.
“Hopefully some good will come out of my situation, I wasn’t the only one to go through it. Plenty of players have felt the same frustration,” Katich said.
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The Crowd Says (13) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Australian Cricket, Cricket, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Test cricket
October 29th 2011 @ 10:27am
The Way It Is said | October 29th 2011 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Clarke is a self centred prat and has been from day one
October 29th 2011 @ 10:52am
Chris said | October 29th 2011 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Unlikely that Clarke has specifically ordered Katich to be dropped, but no doubt when the selectors were trying to decide who amongst the oldies to drop, Clarke would have lobbied hard for the retention of Ponting and Hussey.
On form Clarke should drop himself, but of course he’ll never do that – thereby making a mockery of the decision to make the captain a selector.
Bring back Katich.
October 29th 2011 @ 7:50pm
Fisher Price said | October 29th 2011 @ 7:50pm | Report comment
Neither Hughes, Ponting, Haddin or Clarke should be in the team. But Clarke makes all the right PR noises about his successful ‘playing group’ and is effusive about the continued presence of that past it, petulant, failed captain in the middle order, so he’s well and truly in CA’s good books.
October 29th 2011 @ 1:26pm
Rohan F said | October 29th 2011 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
TWII for your information Michael Clarke can’t be a self centred prat. He’s got tatts mate, he’s a tough guy………..not !!!!
October 30th 2011 @ 6:04pm
The Way It Is said | October 30th 2011 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
I know and it makes me cringe further, when I look at leaders I want someone who I could follow into battle and who would look after my back he is not that person.
October 29th 2011 @ 5:55pm
Russ said | October 29th 2011 @ 5:55pm | Report comment
Here is something I don’t get. On what planet is it remotely reasonable to physically assault someone, particularly over something as inane as a team song, sung at the end of a series that Australia lost. And yet somehow Clarke is the prat and Katich captaincy material? Self-centred intolerance and self-control issues are not captaincy material, and if his repeated outbursts are any indication, Katich has both in spades.
Clarke was always the future. One of the senior three (Ponting, Hussey and Katich) was always likely to be dropped after the Ashes debacle. Katich is going to struggle to hold his own against those two players as it is, if he gave the impression he was going to be a disruptive influence on a new captain in a rebuilding phase (and clearly Katich holds grudges) then the selectors did well to be shot of him.
October 29th 2011 @ 9:51pm
E Fermi said | October 29th 2011 @ 9:51pm | Report comment
Exactly Russ. To grab a game by the throat is a good thing. To grab a team mate by the throat is unforgivable.
October 30th 2011 @ 6:11pm
The Way It Is said | October 30th 2011 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
Look at the reason why he was grabbed by the throat, he was being a self centred prat when he should have been looking after the teams wishes, not his own. Why it was not good to grab him it had been going on for sometime and finally somebody was man enough to pull his head in. Unfortunately a prat like Clarke hide behind the system to get his revenge because he is a limp wrist type of guy
October 29th 2011 @ 6:12pm
Al from ctown said | October 29th 2011 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
Spot on Russ, thank god someone on this thread has a level headed comment… Not just the usual Clarke basher/ katich can do no wrong point of view.
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October 29th 2011 @ 9:09pm
Gubs said | October 29th 2011 @ 9:09pm | Report comment
Well said Russ!
Whilst I understand the Clarke hatred ( as banal as it is) his captaincy is inspired and it is blatantly obvious he has the full support of his team. Recent results testify to that.
Kat’s outburst is unfortunately a sad indictment on an otherwise exemplary career. That said, methinks Brad Hodge has a lot more to be dirty about!
C’mon Aussie c’mon
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October 30th 2011 @ 7:48am
Al from ctown said | October 30th 2011 @ 7:48am | Report comment
Exactly gubs, you don’t hear hodge bitch and whinge everytime he scores some runs in state cricket.
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October 30th 2011 @ 8:34pm
Al from ctown said | October 30th 2011 @ 8:34pm | Report comment
Once again assumptions get thrown about to what actually happens in the dressing room… But hey don’t worry about the facts, let’s just assume that katich is not in the wrong and Clarke is limp wristed….? Right…
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November 4th 2011 @ 12:41pm
David Begg said | November 4th 2011 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Just how Russ et al belive that Katich is not one of the best 2 openers in Australia is quite beyond me. If England have us 3/30 at headingly, and I have a choice of Katich or Phil Hughes being there, I knwo who I’ll take.
Every ex-player (Lee, Waugh etc) who has played with Katich has testified to his outstandingf commitment, teamwork and tactical nous. None of the qulaities hitherto demonstrated by the gen y pup, Pup.
Furthermore, Cricket Australia’s censorship of both Katvich and his supporters in Sri Lanka is reminscent of Himmler’s practices in the 1930s. I am sure this email is being tracked…..but bring back the Kat and make him captain!!