‘It’s a stretch to say we’re mates’: Katich responds to Clarke claims
Simon Katich and Michael Clarke have not patched things up, it seems. Photo: ABC
Simon Katich has refuted Michael Clarke’s claims the two have a healthy, friendly relationship after the pair’s well-documented dispute in 2009.
In a new autobiography and a number of promotional interviews, Clarke has opened up on his and Katich’s spat, which reached a climax with a physical altercation in the SCG changing rooms in January, 2009.
Clarke had claimed the pair had put their issues behind them and had met on occasion for coffee, but while commentating for ABC Grandstand, Katich set the record straight.
“I think that’s a bit of a stretch to say we are mates,” Katich said.
“It’s a bit of a stretch of the imagination given I’ve hardly spoken about it since it all happened, and obviously haven’t played since he took over as captain.
“[Our relationship] has been non-existent, so to suggest we are mates now after everything that has happened is a bit of a stretch.”
Katich never played a Test once Clarke took over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting, and believes this was no coincidence despite Clarke’s claims of a reconciliation.
“The opposite happened. I never came back in that dressing room,” he said.
“I felt given the time of Ricky moving on from the captaincy to him, that coincided with me not being contracted. I put two and two together and feel like that probably played a part.”
https://soundcloud.com/abc_grandstand/simon-katich-reacts-to-michael-clarkes-book-tour
One of Clarke’s most explosive revelations was his reference to Shane Watson as a “cancer” and “tumour” on the team.
Watson responded to the comments by saying they were “more a reflection of the person he is”, and Katich seems to agree.
“I saw Shane Watson’s comments during the week, and I thought he hit the nail on the head with it,” he said.
“I thought it was rather ironic that he was called the tumour.”
Above all, Katich was keen to leave the “old news” behind him and had a simple explanation for the story’s revival.
“I guess at the moment he’s trying to sell a book, so it’s amazing how more and more of the story comes out.”
Simon Katich believes he still had more Test runs left in him when he lost his contract in 2011. Photo: AAP
