NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 27: Simon Katich (L and Michael Clarke of Australia leave the field at the close of play during day three of the Fourth npower Ashes Test between England and Australia played at Trent Bridge on August 27, 2005 in Nottingham, United Kingdom (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that he called Simon Katich a "weak c---" during their infamous dressing room altercation in 2009.

In an interview on Channel Nine's 60 minutes on Sunday, Clarke admitted; “I don’t think my language was appropriate to Kato.”

However, in his autobiography, entitled, My Story, Clarke elaborated on the exchange.

After Australia had beaten South Africa at the SCG in '09, the pair disagreed over when the team song should be sung, with Katich grabbing Clarke by the collar during the altercation.

Clarke said he had another function to attend and wanted to sing the song and leave the change rooms quickly.

The former skipper explained that he spoke with team song leader, Michael Hussey, to check that the song would be sung prior to his arrangements, which also involved a few of his teammates.

“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.”