Michael Clarke vs Simon Katich — Dressing Room Altercation

After Australia's victory in the 4th Test against South Africa at the SCG in 2009, a shocking altercation took place in the Australian dressing room. Simon Katich reportedly grabbed Michael Clarke by the throat after Clarke indicated he wanted to leave the dressing room early — reportedly to attend his girlfriend Lara Bingle's birthday party — before the team had finished singing their victory song.

Katich, a hard-nosed traditional cricketer, was furious that Clarke appeared to be prioritising his social life over team traditions. The physical confrontation was reportedly separated by teammates. The incident was initially kept quiet but was later revealed by journalists, causing embarrassment for both players and Cricket Australia.

The incident highlighted a cultural divide within the Australian team between the traditional, no-nonsense players like Katich and the newer generation. Clarke and Katich reportedly did not speak for a considerable period afterwards. Clarke went on to become Australian captain, while Katich's international career wound down. The incident is regularly cited as evidence of the tensions that existed within the Australian team during its transitional period in the late 2000s.