Warner, de Kock brawl shadows Australian win
Aheated exchange between David Warner and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock in a stairwell during the tea break on fourth day’s play stole the limelight from Australia’s thumping 118-run win in the first Test in Durban on Monday.
Resuming day five with a just a wicket from winning the first Test, Australia needed just 22 balls and 20 minutes at Kingsmead.
Five runs were added by the home side before Quinton de Kock was hit on the back pad and trapped leg before wicket by Josh Hazlewood (3-61) as he tried to launch the ball over the boundary.
Meanwhile, personal insults were at the root of a row between Warner and de Kock, their captains said.
The incident is in the hands of match referee Jeff Crowe, with no immediate clarity about when a decision could be expected.
A CCTV footage showed Warner apparently turning on De Kock as the players walked up a narrow staircase leading to the dressing rooms at the start of the interval in Durban in a match won by Australia. “What was said and done during that interval was regrettable on both sides,” said Australian captain Steve Smith.
“Quinton got personal and evoked an emotional response from Davey. Those things are not on from both sides. Getting personal on the field is crossing the line in my opinion.”
Smith’s version was disputed by South African manager Mohammed Moosajee, who blamed Warner.
“There were words said out on the field. If you are saying something you’ve got to take it and that’s the opinion of Quinton. Let the investigations begin and let the match officials decide,” said Moosajee.
South African captain Faf du Plessis said the umpires needed to ensure proper behaviour on the field.
“From what I’ve heard there was a lot of personal stuff being said, to and from. Who started it, I don’t know. If it was happening on the field it should have been nipped in the bud. “The fact that it spilled over after the field shouldn’t have happened.”
According to Du Plessis, De Kock was unaffected by the incident. “Quinny’s fine. I don’t think you get a reaction from him most of the time. When you look at him now it’s like nothing happened.”
The CCTV footage shows Warner being restrained by teammates Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon before being persuaded to go into the dressing room by Smith.
Du Plessis said he had been aware of the incident. “I heard the commotion and went outside and just asked David to go into his dressing room. It needs to stay on the field when you are chirping each other. There need to be boundaries on that.”
Smith acknowledged his players were “certainly very chirpy on the field”. But he said that as far as he aware his players had not got personal with De Kock.
Smith said he hoped the remaining three Tests would be played in the right spirit but added: “We play our best cricket when we’re aggressive, when we’re in the fight together and hunting as a pack as one. We’re working for each other and backing our mates. That’s part of being an Australian.”
He said there had been “regrettable incidents from both parties” but hoped for better behaviour in the next three Tests.
The Australians had earlier been criticised for their ebullient celebration of the dramatic run-out of Proteas’ star batsman AB de Villiers. De Villiers was run out for nought after being involved in a mixup with opening batsman Aiden Markram, with Warner playing a key fielding role in securing the crucial wicket.
The vice-captain then led ecstatic celebrations with his teammates as Nathan Lyon, who had knocked off the bails, dropped the ball towards a sprawled de Villiers as he ran over to join them.
Ugly scenes in Durban. Can only assume something very personal has been throw at @ davidwarner31 for this type of reaction. Not a good look all round.
#SAvAUS Adam Gilchrist @gilly381
There were a few regrettable things from both sides. Quinton got a little bit personal and Davey didn’t react as good as he could’ve done.”
Gerard Whateley @GerardWhateley
Very, very good efforts here by Usman Khawaja to restrain David Warner as he went off tap at Quinton de Kock. Also votes to Steve Smith, Tim Paine. Warner owes them.
Big incident could’ve become even bigger if not for them #RSAvAUS Andrew Wu @wutube