Thaindian News

Sydney, Dec 6 (IANS) Former Test batsman Simon Katich says he has no regrets on his remarks about captain Michael Clarke which led to his being reprimanded by Cricket Australia (CA) following a disciplinary hearing Monday.

Katich was charged by CA after he told reporters Oct 29 that he thought a physical bust-up with Clarke after a Test match in the dressing room two years ago led to his losing his contracted player status.

The New South Wales (NSW) opener escaped any fine or ban from CA’s disciplinary panel and will represent the Blues against Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield match here Tuesday.

“I haven’t changed that stance, in terms of regretting comments,” Katich said when asked whether he regretted making his statements.

“I made the comments at the point of time, for what I perceived to be the case of me not being selected to play Test cricket. From that point of view, it was never my intention to breach the code of behaviour. I’ve learnt a lesson from this,” Katich was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.

While criticising the selection policies of CA, Katich also said he would not return to the national team as long as Clarke was captain. But soon after the hearing and his reprimand he said he had not given up on returning to the Test team and said there was no issue playing in the same team as Clarke.

“You never give up. I’ve never given up in my whole career,” he said.

“That’s probably been one of my strengths, even when I was told four years ago they weren’t going to pick me again. My whole focus is to play good cricket for NSW, whether I get picked again, that’s not the issue.”