Ban needed to defuse tensions
Former Test opener Simon Katich believes David Warner should be suspended after the Aussie vice-captain’s stairwell outburst in Durban.
Warner is facing potential sanction from the International Cricket Council after exploding at South African keeper Quentin de Kock during the tea break on day four of the first Test.
It was understood a hearing for Warner could be convened today, with a fine and suspension among possible penalties.
It has emerged Warner was responding to personal sledges related to his wife Candice when he had to be restrained by several teammates as they left the field. The incident was captured on CCTV and obtained by match referee Jeff Crowe, who has spoken to all the parties involved.
South African officials didn’t deny there were personal matters involved in the sledging of Warner, but said the Aussie had gone just as hard.
The fiery opener drew support from his captain Steve Smith, although the skipper conceded Warner “could have reacted better”.
But with penalties likely to be handed out within 24 hours, Katich said Warner, and de Kock, had to be suspended, and miss the second Test which starts on Friday in Port Elizabeth to diffuse the combustible situation.
“If that (behaviour) doesn’t get stamped out, you bet it’s going to happen again. At the moment it might take a oneTest ban for both players to realise they can’t behave like that,” he said.
“That will put it to bed and other players will step up and take notice of it. In the end, the team that gets affected by a player missing a Test match is going to be very disappointed in their teammate.
“The teammates will start to police those issues rather than let them happen over and over.”
Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon has already been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council for his “ball drop” send-off of South African AB de Villiers.
Lyon apologised to de Villiers on the morning of day five after being fined for contravening the spirit of cricket with his bizarre send-off of the South African great.