Taste of things to come as Test series hots up
SLEDGING: SA HAVE FOUND WARNER’S ‘SWEET SPOT’
Aussie coach calls for calm; suggests peace talks ahead of second Test.
While the verbal altercation between David Warner and Quinton de Kock during the first Test in Durban has sparked a massive debate around the issue of sledging, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes the Aussie vice-captain can expect little relief from the niggle by Proteas players for the rest of the series.
However, Australian coach Darren Lehmann has called for calm by suggesting the two sides talk things out ahead of the second Test in Port Elizabeth on Friday
The altercation between Warner and De Kock after the fourth day’s play was captured by CCTV footage on a staircase outside the dressing-rooms at Kingsmead, with a highly upset Warner held back by team-mates as De Kock makes his way up the stairs. Match referee Jeff Crowe is believed to be looking into the incident and Warner could face sanctions, but there has been no comment yet from the International Cricket Council.
“To be frank, South Africa have found a little sweet spot with David Warner,” Hogg told Fox Sports yesterday over reports that De Kock’s jibe about Warner’s wife had apparently sparked his furious reaction.
“They’ll be trying to nag him in the next three Test matches about his wife now,” Hogg added.
But Lehmann expects things to get sorted out before the clash at St George’s Park.
“I’m sure the coaches will chat and the captains will chat and we'll get away to play the game," he told Australian reporters.
“Both sides are going to push the boundaries. That’s part and parcel of the game. It’s a bloody tough game out there.”
Lehmann refused to be drawn into the blame game that followed between the two camps with both suggesting the other setting off the ugly spat.
“Everyone has their own opinion,” the coach said, adding that Warner still has his full support as vice-captain.
Lehmann said the incident had detracted from what he described as “a great game of cricket”, which Australia won by 118 runs.
Several former players have weighed in on the debate, with former South African spinner Paul Harris suggesting Warner is nothing but a “bully”.
“Warner is the type of guy where if things are going well for Australia, he’s got a big mouth, but when they’re losing, he doesn’t say too much,” Harris said. “When he says something and someone comes back at him, then he gets upset. That’s pretty much all the characteristics of a bully,” Harris told SAcricketmag.co.za.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also backed De Kock posting “the man in question I hear from many has been doing it for a while so I guess someone eventually was going to touch a nerve with a response” on his Twitter account.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist defended Warner’s actions by tweeting “Can only assume something very personal has been thrown at @ davidwarner31 for this type of reaction. Not a good look all round.”
Australian legend Shane Warne said players should stop “whinging” about sledging and urged them to “have a beer together” and patch things up.