David Warner has given a frank insight into his rage-fuelled rampage directed at South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock on the fourth day of the first cricket Test in Durban.
Warner regrets losing control in the ugly staircase stoush that cost him approximately $13,500, three demerit points and a fair whack of reputation damage in the eyes of the Australian public.
Australia’s vice-captain says he must handle future situations much better, but also vowed to continue defending his family.
De Kock on Wednesday unsuccessfully contested his level-one charge of bringing the game into disrepute, resulting from a derogatory comment.
“I cop it left, right and centre, especially off the field from spectators. I am used to that and it doesn’t bother me,” Warner told reporters after he accepted a level-two charge.
“I’ve been called everything under the sun out on the field and that, quite frankly, doesn’t bother me.
“But in the proximity of my personal space and behind me, a comment that was vile and disgusting and about my wife – and just in general about a lady – was quite poor.
“It was just something that I don’t believe should have been said … (it was) out of line.
“I responded emotionally and regretted the way it played out, but I’ll always stick up for my family.”
New footage of the incredibly heated confrontation emerged on Thursday, showing the exact point when Warner snaps.
Warner insists he didn’t want things to become violent.
“I just would have liked him to say the comment a little bit louder, instead of muttering it under his breath next to me and Tim Paine,” Warner said.
“Then walking up the stairs and saying ‘I didn’t say anything’ as soon as the rest of his teammates came out.
“We’re all men and if you’re going to say something, you look someone in the eye and say it.”
Warner and de Kock are yet to speak since their scrap, which has overshadowed Australia’s series-opening win in Durban and the build-up to the second Test that starts in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
“Hopefully I can speak to him in the next couple of days, or after the game, or after the series,” the opener said.
Warner rejected South Africa’s accusations that he subjected de Kock to personal abuse.
“It is quite disappointing that they would come out and make that statement,” he said.
Warner declared he will continue to play aggressively despite the prospect of a ban hanging over his head for the next two years.
The 31-year-old added he would respond in a “more appropriate manner” if the same situation happened again, but downplayed the prospect of the Proteas needling him about family matters again.
“I can’t see anyone else making comments the way that he made them, which were outright disgusting,” Warner said.
“It’s a thing you wouldn’t say about any lady, especially someone’s wife.
“When it comes to family or racism comments or anything like that, that’s just a no-go zone.”
Match referee Jeff Crowe will meet with skippers Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis on Thursday, spelling out how he wants players to behave when the series continues.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
If ... If ...
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Does he need to clown?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Real ... maybe. Failed ... obviously!
Malo
Guest
Warner pull you head in. See part of the crowd are now wearing SBW faces. Hilarious and what else did you expect . Warner and Smith are desecrating the baggy gold.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Sorry Dave. You enjoy your role as verbal enforcer. It seems to be part of who you are. You openly talk about finding a reason to hate your opposition. What a sad reality! Once, wearing the baggy green was motivation enough. Representing your country was motivation enough. Once, sportsmanship was of greater value than gamesmanship. Sadly, that is no longer the realty in Australian Cricket. Davey, whether your sledges at de Kock were personal or not, just remembered that you fired the first shots. Once the shooting starts, its often the innocent parties who get caught up in the crossfire.
Lara
Guest
DW is no saint, he is no role model, in fact why am I wasting my time even writing about him .
Lack any class? Do you actually know me? Nitwit.
Jerry
Guest
Yes, some people don't have much class but if you've been calling someone a f**king sook for two hours, you can't really play that card with much credibility.
rebel
Roar Guru
What was said has not been reported other than in generic terms. If you can point us in the direction of a direct quote it would be most appreciated.
WQ
Guest
Too true jameswm and possibly a few real ones......
jameswm
Guest
there are a lot of amateur psychologists on here...
anon
Roar Pro
Maybe I'll just start throwing my fists everytime someone in a pub makes an insensitive joke about a person on the other side of planet.
WQ
Guest
The 'line' the Aussie Cricketers abide by I suspect is a little like Donald Trump's 'line', it shifts to suit their circumstances... I also suspect wee Davey has a classic case of little mans syndrome!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Don't forget Virfat Kohli ... oh hang on he oversteps the mark against everybody!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Yeh - the odd thing about the punch in the pub incident is that Davey was defending Hashim Amla from what he perceived to be a racist remark by Joe Root! Some people have no class... The SBW situation was from before Warner and Fallon met so, whilst not a particularly savoury incident, could be seen as dredging the depths to bring up the past of someone's family. Some people have no class ....
jameswm
Guest
Didn't you just say the same thing in another thread?
vistro
Guest
Isn't it uncanny that Sarwan, Styris, Harbhajan...Quinny all over stepped the line vs Aus...but these good Aussie boys would never do that...oh no never!
anon
Roar Pro
Little Davey Warner wouldn't be much in this world if he couldn't hit a cricket ball. Took the bait. Easy to rile up. At least he's not punching opponents in pubs anymore. If it was a comment in jest about a Sonny Bill Williams rendezvous then Warner just needs to just take it on the chin. Funny reference.
twodogs
Guest
Best wishes they put on a good show then.
aaron Smith ? ?