Rumours regarding the incident had been circling for years, but Clarke finally explained the circumstances surrounding the incident in his book, My Story.  

The incident took place in 2009 following Australia’s victory over South Africa at the SCG.

Clarke wanted the team song to be sung so he could attend a function which led to Katich grabbing his younger teammate around the throat.

“Whether it’s the drink, or paranoia, or just my personality – I’m often impatient waiting for the next activity to happen – I get the impression that Huss and Kato are enjoying seeing me grow agitated,” Clarke wrote.

“I go up to Huss, and let my annoyance show.

“‘What the f---’s going on with the song?’

“Huss says, ‘Yep, yep, we’ll do it’, and he can see that everyone is gathering in the room waiting for him.

“…But 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.’

“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.

“Then Huss says, from the corner, ‘Look, the moment’s not right, we’re not going to do the song right now.’

“I put my beers down, grab my bag and walk out.”