Katich: Ironic Clarke called Shane Watson a tumour
Former Australian opener Simon Katich has offered his view on Michael Clarke’s newly released autobiography, describing it as ironic that the former captain referred to Shane Watson as being part of a group of players that were a ‘‘tumour’’ on the Australian team during a tumultuous period three years ago.
Clarke’s and Katich’s post-playing endeavours have placed them in close quarters on the commentary trail.
Clarke has joined the Channel 9 team while Katich is embarking on another summer calling for ABC Grandstand radio.
The echoes of their infamous dressing room stoush in the SCG seven years ago continue, though, having been brought back into focus with the release of Clarke’s memoir last week.
In the book, he plays down the significance of the run-in with Katich after an Australian test win over South Africa in Sydney - titling the chapter ‘The Feud That Wasn’t’ - and also writes on his relationship with Watson.
Clarke denies saying Watson was a ‘‘cancer’’ on the team, as had been claimed by then sacked coach Mickey Arthur in documents connected with his legal action against Cricket Australia.
But Clarke admitted the all-rounder was part of a group ‘‘whose behaviour was like a tumour, and if we don’t cut it out, they’ll become a cancer’’.
Watson responded while on stage at a business function in Melbourne last week that Clarke’s comments said more about the former captain than him.
Katich, commentating on ABC during the Matador Cup final between NSW and Queensland at North Sydney Oval, was asked on air about Clarke’s book on Sunday.
‘‘I don’t want to be drawn into too much because it’s old news but I saw Shane Watson’s comments during the week and I thought he hit the nail on the head with it,’’ Katich said.
‘‘I thought it was rather ironic that he was called the tumour.’’
Clarke claims in his book that he had nothing to do with Katich’s omission from the test team or his exclusion from the national contract list in 2011.
When he had assumed the captaincy from Ricky Ponting, he says he urged then chairman of selectors John Inverarity to pick the left-hander on the 2013 Ashes tour due to his experience.
The selectors ended up recalling another veteran opener, Chris Rogers, with success.
Katich said on Sunday: ‘‘I just felt the time of Ricky moving on from the captaincy to him and that coincided with me not being contracted ... I put two and two together and thought that probably played a part.
‘‘But it’s done and dusted, I’ve moved on. I’m enjoying life and if he wants to write about it in his book then so be it.’’
In an ABC radio interview, Clarke said he was ‘‘fine with Kato’’.
‘‘We caught up last summer when I was commentating for Channel 9 and he might have been doing some work for you guys,’’ Clarke said.
‘‘We were completely fine. I was brought up with this old school mentality that if you have a disagreement, or have a fight or a stink with someone, then you go and have a beer straight after.
‘‘You go and catch up and you’re over it. That was what happened with Simon and in my opinion I’m completely fine with Kat.’’
Katich said on Sunday that opposite happened’’.
‘‘He never came back in the dressing room,’’ he joked. He said his relationship with Clarke was ‘‘non-existent’’. ‘‘the