Cricket Australia back Clarke's captaincy ambitions

Melbourne, Feb.6 (ANI): Cricket Australia has dismissed concerns that Michael Clarke's physical altercation with Test team mate Simon Katich will affect his long-term captaincy ambitions.

Katich grabbed vice-captain Clarke by the throat in a heated row following the team's victory in the Sydney Test against South Africa last month.

The altercation was sparked over the singing of the team song, Beneath The Southern Cross, following the win. It was reported that Clarke wanted the song finished early so he could leave to be with fianc‚e Lara Bingle.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the spat wouldn't impact on Clarke's ambitions of leading the national team once current skipper Ricky Ponting departs the game.

"No, not at all as far we are concerned. Yeah, there was a blue. It happened after the last day of the Sydney Test and those guys have since made up and moved on. From our point of view, as far we are concerned, it is an issue between two individuals and they have resolved it and moved on. These things happen in even the best of families from time to time, but everyone gets over it and moves on,'' the Daily Telegraph quoted Young, as saying.Both Clarke and Katich have acknowledged the clash occurred, but insisted there are no problems between them. The altercation came at the end of Australia's 2-1 series loss to South Africa, the first time the home side had lost a Test series on home soil since 1992-93.

It's believed Clarke wanted the song to be sung by 11 p.m., five hours after the teams left the field, so he could attend drinks with Bingle and friends.

Custom dictates that the song's "custodian'', currently Michael Hussey, dictates the timing of the song. Hussey did not begin the song until near midnight after the fight had broken out. (ANI)