Run machine ... Simon Katich raises his bat after scoring a century against Victoria at the SCG yesterday. Credit:Getty Images ''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, standing outside the same dressing room where the exchange with Clarke took place, said. ''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 [Inverarity] is going to be chairman of selectors, or whatever role it is, I wouldn't have thought that'd make too much difference.'' Asked whether he had since spoken to Clarke about grabbing his throat, he said, ''No''. Queried further on whether he thought he could return to the Test line-up with Clarke as captain, Katich replied: ''I wouldn't have thought so. That's probably why I'm in this position in the first place.'' Clarke, preparing for Australia's deciding one-day international against South Africa in Durban, was also yet to reply last night. He was vice-captain at the time he and Katich nearly came to blows.

Cricket Australia declined to comment last night. Clarke was not the only subject of Katich's extraordinary post-game spray. The left-hander also took aim at selectors and officials for not contacting him since he attacked them in a mid-year press conference following the stunning decision to rip up his national contract. His broadside came a day after Victorian opener Chris Rogers made a similar criticism of selectors for not returning his calls after his Test sacking in 2008. ''No one from Cricket Australia has been in contact with me since,'' Katich said. ''I just think … it's pretty disrespectful. I think, from my personal point of view, given I've been contracted for 11 years, to not have any contact whatsoever, that's pretty disappointing. ''As Chris Rogers said, that's blatantly rude, to be honest. It's just common courtesy to give someone a call back.'' Katich's bitterness over his removal from Australian plans seemed to have cooled leading into a season in which he threatens to embarrass the Cricket Australia hierarchy with a large haul of runs.

While the veteran had been more diplomatic of late, outrage among his supporters continued to simmer. Katich's wounds, it was evident last night, are anything but healed. While he all but acknowledged his 56-Test career was over, he said he continued to play at state level because of a love of the game. ''I enjoy playing my cricket here, so that's why I'm still playing,'' he said. ''A big part of that was I had a lot of support at the time when the axing happened, so to have that support has spurred me on to keep playing. ''Hopefully some good will come out of my situation. I wasn't the only one to go through it, plenty of players have felt the same frustration.'' The timing of Katich's ton yesterday, his 52nd in first-class matches, was beautiful. As Inverarity was being unveiled in mid-afternoon, Katich was putting the finishing touches on three figures for NSW.

Loading He was on 99 when a phone conference call between Inverarity and cricket reporters around the country began. After a couple of questions, Katich brought up his hundred. He was eventually out for 110. The only shame about unfolding of events yesterday was the inevitable dimming of focus on the role played by Ben Rohrer in ensuring safety for the severely undermanned Blues. His excellent 114 in a 216-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Katich secured the draw, although it still leaves NSW without a point in their opening two Sheffield Shield matches.