Cricket Australia plays down Clarke-Katich spat

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland says batsmen Michael Clarke and Simon Katich have put a dressing-room spat after the Sydney Test behind them.

Katich reportedly grabbed Clarke by the throat during an argument about the singing of the team song.

Clarke is said to have wanted the song sung early so he could leave to attend drinks with model fiancu00e9 Lara Bingle and friends.

The incident came after Australia had beaten South Africa in a thrilling third Test at the SCG.

Both players have confirmed that the spat occurred.

"Yes, we had a disagreement after the Sydney Test," Clarke told News Limited.

"This kind of thing occasionally happens in cricket teams. We didn't see eye to eye on that night, but we have been teammates at New South Wales and Australia a long time.

"We've spoken since, including catching up the other night at the Allan Border Medal. There's no issue between us. We've all moved on."

Katich said: "I've spoken to Michael as recently as today and we're both big enough and old enough to have moved on. I'm not fussed about what happened."

CA has played down the incident in a response on its website.

"I have that there was an altercation at the end of the Sydney Test match. To be honest I'm not too concerned about that," Mr Sutherland said.

"These sort of incidents happen from time to time even in the happiest of families and I'm comforted by the fact that both players have moved on.

"I'm very confident that they'll be looking forward to touring together in South Africa."

Clarke will captain Australia in the second one-day match against New Zealand in Melbourne today, with regular skipper Ricky Ponting being rested.