Warner’s wife swaps barbs with Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has denied advocating ‘‘personal abuse’’ against Australian cricketers after a Twitter row with David Warner’s wife, Candice.

Australian opener Warner has been subjected to taunts from South Africans during their test series against the Proteas after his stairwell stoush with South Africa’s wicketkeeper/batsman, Quinton de Kock, who is believed to have a made a comment about Candice Warner’s toilet tryst with Sonny Bill Williams in a Sydney hotel in 2007.

Some South African fans then wore Williams masks during the second test in Port Elizabeth in an attempt to provoke Warner, who has since been forced to quit as vice-captain in the wake of the balltampering from the third test in Cape Town.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann had said they would make an official complaint about the abuse they had received in South Africa.

Vaughan laughed at that notion. ‘‘It’s making me chuckle the Aussies are making an official complaint about the personal abuse they are receiving,’’ he tweeted.

Candice Warner then furiously replied: ‘‘I’m glad it’s making you laugh,’’ before adding, ‘‘so you would approve of the same treatment to your wife and three kids.’’

Vaughan, who in 2005 captained England to their first Ashes series victory in 18 years, then hit back by suggesting the behaviour of Australia’s cricket players had actually caused the problems. ‘‘Absolutely not,’’ he said, ‘‘but off-field anger in my experience starts with on-field behaviour by players, so maybe you need to look closer to home as to why !!!! ’’

She then retweeted a comment which referred to Vaughan as an idiot.