Michael Hussey Holds Himself "Partly Responsible" For The Ugly Altercation Between Michael Clarke And Simon Katich In 2009

The ugly altercation between former captain Michael Clarke and Simon Katich remains one of the most controversial incidents in Australian cricket history.

It all happened during the summer of 2009 when Simon Katich and Michael Clarke literally came to blows post-Australia’s win against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Many believe that the altercation started after Michael Clarke’s repeated insistence of doing away with the team song early so that he could attend other functions. Michael Hussey, who was the leader of the team song, recently opened up on the incident where he held himself partly responsible for what ensued between Michael Clarke and Simon Katich.

“I hadn’t noticed any friction between the two in the past. Things escalated that evening,” Michael Hussey told Fox Sports.

“That was probably partly my fault. I was the leader of the team song, I didn’t realise that Pup [Clarke] was trying to get the team song done to get away. It was complete shock… I had never seen anything like that before in an Australian dressing room,” Hussey added.

Also Read: Michael Clarke Not Satisfied With Denying Usman Khawaja A Central Contract

Simon Katich and Michael Clarke have both given their version of the story in the past

Since the altercation, both Simon Katich and Michael Clarke have given their version of what really led to the incident. Katich, while speaking on SEN radio’s ‘This is Your Sporting Life’, had said that Clarke’s personal comments and the fact that he crossed the line led to the ugly face-off.

“There’s been a fair bit said about it, I won’t deny that it happened. It was partly to do with the singing of the team song and the pressure that he was putting on Michael Hussey to really get on with it and get on with the night. That probably led to our altercation. But a big part of it from my point of view was what he said to me and the personal nature of what he said. I can’t repeat that on the show unfortunately because I’m sure there are some ladies out there listening,” Katich had said.

Michael Clarke, on the other hand, in his autobiography wrote:

“Huss and Kato seem to be enjoying the delay more and more, particularly at my expense. I think I hear them say something like ‘F— it, let’s make him wait a bit longer’. And then I lose it.’Hang on, you’re doing this out of spite, you f—ing dogs. Have the balls to say it to my face.’ Michael Clarke wrote.

He added: “Kato fires up. ‘What did you say?’ ‘I said have the balls to say it to my face, you weak c—s.Kato marches across the room and grabs me by the shirt collar. For a few seconds, we glare at each other and mutter obscenities. If he ever wanted to hit me, now is his chance, with me having a beer in each hand and my arms around my teammates’ shoulders. But he walks away. I stay in the circle.”

Two years after the faceoff, Katich lost his central contract and many believed that it was because of the incident between him and Clarke, something the former Australian captain has repeatedly denied.

Also Read: Michael Clarke Denies His Involvement In Simon Katich Snub After Dressing Room Outburst