JOIN USTroubled Australian opener David Warner was left out for Australia’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand on Wednesday after the batsman was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with England player Joe Root in a Birmingham bar on early Sunday morning.
“Cricket Australia advises that Australian batsman David Warner has been stood down from Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy match against New Zealand after being reported for breaching the CA Code of Behaviour,” said a release from CA.
Warner, who was recently fined $5750 for his ugly twitter rant against two Australian cricket writers, faces the possibility of being sent home if the Code of Behaviour hearing finds the allegations serious enough. “CA will convene the Code of Behaviour as soon as possible. Details will be provided once the time and date is confirmed,” the release added.
England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the incident but didn’t disclose the identity of its player. “Following a statement issued this morning by Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirms that David Warner initiated an unprovoked physical attack on a member of the England team in a Birmingham bar following England's 48-run victory over Australia.
Warner has admitted behaving inappropriately and has since apologised to the player involved who has accepted the apology. Following a full investigation the England team management has concluded that the England player was in no way responsible for nor retaliated to the attack.”
Meanwhile, John Creighton, manager of the Walkabout bar in Birmingham, while confirming the altercation, said that the matter was settled amicably. “There was a small altercation between Warner and Root. This was dealt with very amicably and quickly by the rest of the group and both were calmly chatting to each other shortly afterwards.
They all left a short while later and a small bar tab was picked up by David Warner.” He also confirmed that police were not called as Root, it is believed, did not want to take the matter further. It is also reported that apart from Stuart Broad, Steven Finn (England), Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, there were a few more players from both sides present at the time of the incident.