Katich disciplinary hearing delayed

Simon Katich's disciplinary hearing before Cricket Australia over his comments about Michael Clarke has been delayed until December, allowing further time for the air to cool and increasing the likelihood of a guilty plea.

The disciplinary hearing, originally slated for November 21, is now expected to be held on Monday, December 5. The delay has been caused by scheduling conflicts and Katich, his legal representation and management requiring more time to organise ahead an answer to the charge of "detrimental public comment".

Since Katich's comments on October 28, which re-opened the question of whether or not personal enmity between himself and Clarke had led to the opener's removal from the list of CA contracted players, time is believed to have cooled the anger that flowed from Katich's mouth at the SCG.

When asked by reporters whether John Inverarity's appointment as the new National Selector had enhanced his chances of an international recall, Katich had spoken pointedly.

"It's pleasing to hear but I think you don't have to be Einstein to figure out that it's not just the selectors that had a part in sending me on my way," Katich said following a Sheffield Shield century against Victoria. "I mean to be brutally honest obviously what happened in the dressing room here a few years ago didn't help my cause. And obviously the captain and coach are selectors.

"Just because he [Inverarity] is going to be chairman of selectors or whatever role it is I wouldn't have thought that'd make too much difference."

Queried on whether or not he could ever expect to play for Australia while Clarke was captain, Katich replied: "I wouldn't have thought so. That's probably why I'm in this position in the first place."

James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, was swift in his repudiation of Katich's words, and the batsman himself is thought to now want the matter to be concluded as quickly as possible, minimising the damage from a divisive episode.