Dramatic footage has emerged of David Warner being restrained by his Australian teammates in an off-field confrontation with South African wicketkeeper Quinten de Kock during the first Test in Durban.
The CCTV video, published by South African outlet Independent Media, shows a fired up Warner remonstrating with de Kock as the teams walked upstairs to the change rooms during Sunday’s tea break.
The footage shows Warner being physically held back by Usman Khawaja before being dragged away by Australian skipper Steve Smith.
South African skipper Faf du Plessis then emerges and has words with Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
The incident is certain to raise further questions about Warner’s conduct after he gave a frenzied serve to Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers when the latter was run out for a duck earlier on day four.
Nathan Lyon has also come under scrutiny for dropping the ball right beside a prone de Villiers after dislodging the bails.
The Australian camp are certain to be unhappy about the CCTV footage being leaked.
“CA is aware of reports of an incident between players in Durban,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said on Monday.
“CA is working to establish the facts of what has occurred and will not be commenting further until that has been done.”
Tensions between the two sides had already threatened to boil over as Australia closed in on victory in the first of four Tests.
Warner, Mitchell Starc and South Africa’s firebrand Kagiso Rabada have all been involved in verbal stoushes during the series opener.
Rabada’s send-off of Warner on day three attracted the attention of both umpires, while Starc gave recalled batsman Theunis de Bruyn a gobful in Sunday’s post-lunch session.
ICC laws dictate that players must not use “language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal”.
Bobbo7
Guest
What has that got to do with it Fergus? From all accounts Warner has been great to his family and good on him. The only issue I have is his punching, scrapping and general moronic behaviour relating to his cricket. I don't mind the sledging either. The problem is he goes beyond sledging.
DavSA
Guest
Ha ha . ....and The Martians have landed . You heard it here first.
Razzar
Guest
Your right Adsa, then we can determine whether Warner has the right to become violent. Seems his fellow teammates thought better of it, and not endulging in fisticuffs over some insulting words.
Neville
Guest
The Kiwis even had a sledging water boy at one stage, against South Africa too, now that was a hoot
Big Daddy
Guest
Reminds me of the old days in rugby league scrums when you said something about the opposition bookers wife. All he'll would break loose but at the end of the day you would shake hands and have a beer. Evidently not in the gentleman's game.
Bobbo7
Guest
Sledging I don't mind - but Warner has punched players, had to be restrained in the tunnel this game and his ABD send off was not sledging but a bogan who had lost control. Warner goes way beyond sledging
Bobbo7
Guest
It is... sadly
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
"Would rather follow NZ losing ...". That's going rather well isn't it!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Anyone else involved Georgie?
Neville
Guest
“It’s not reserved for people of low intelligence but as a general rule of thumb low intelligence people are more likely to be aggressive”. Sounds just like de Kock, he has form and has been fined for on-field aggression.
bilo
Guest
well it has to be true then! the internet said so...
Bob Pacey
Guest
If you can't take it you need to shut up and not dish it out - Davey is yet to learn this fundamental.
Bob Pacey
Guest
Not PC though :)
Bob Pacey
Guest
"Warner behaves with at least a modicum of civility most of the time." And yet you already did...
Fergus
Roar Rookie
Warner is well aware of that fact if you've ever bothered to listen to his interviews. He may be simple but he's not stupid, he would be aware there was better ways he could have handled that issue he isn't called the reverend for nothing.
Fergus
Roar Rookie
I agree to an extent with what your saying, but there are degrees of personal insults. Saying "you should let your wife come out and bat for you mate, she at least knows how to hold a stick" isn't as bad as other things that could be said. I feel with an insult like that warner would cope fine because it's directly disparaging him more then his wife. His nickname the Reverend directly allures to his personal life so i would be surprised if he isn't used to some level of banter directed toward it. It's just the nature of that banter or sledging that matters.
Nope
Guest
Rather that than a coward of a captain ala` kohli who feigns injury because he's too scared the opposition bowlers.
Geoff
Guest
Ahhhh apparently in retaliation for comments about one of the SA players' sister or mother..... Warner is THE stupidest man in international sport. He doesn't get a pass here
Savage
Roar Rookie
I personally have no problem with Sledging as long as it does not crosses line(like Someone being too personal or racist remarks etc.). Australia have been guilty of crossing that line. https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ab-de-villiers-sledging-abuse-australia-south-africa-2014-test-series-worst-personal-clarke-steyn/2016-10-17 And It's no surprise that they are involved in another controversy. Australia needs to be smart with their sledging as they tends to overdo sometimes. Cricket needs characters like Warner,kohli,Stokes etc.
Ad-0
Guest
There's nothing much too this. Although a good bat, David Warner is a grade 1 moron. Always has been and always will be. There's nothing about him which has ever said otherwise.