<p>Australia batsman David Warner issued an apology on Thursday for getting involved in a late night bar-room fracas with young England player Joe Root. <br /><br /></p>.<p>"It's true I struck Joe in the face and I'm here today (Thursday) to put my hand up and apologise publicly to Joe and to own up to my actions," Warner told a news conference. "I'm extremely remorseful.’’ <br /><br />"I've let down my team-mates, the Cricket Australia fans, our support staff, myself, my family and I'm extremely apologetic," he added, without explaining how the incident started. <br /><br />Earlier on Thursday, the batsman was suspended until the first Ashes Test on July 10 and fined 11,500 Australian dollars ($10,900) for his part in the incident which occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Birmingham after Australia's Champions Trophy defeat by England. <br /><br />"I won't deny that I had a couple of drinks but it is no excuse for what I did," Warner said at the news conference in London, where team captain Michael Clarke sat beside him. <br />"It was totally out of line, I've sent a text message to Joe, he's accepted my apology and I'm eternally grateful for that.’’<br /><br />"I don't have a drinking problem...but looking back I should not have been in that situation. It's up to me now to be accountable for my actions and to make sure I don't get involved in something like this ever again,’’ he added. <br /><br />British media reported that the "unprovoked physical attack", in the words of the England and Wales Cricket Board, was triggered by Root wearing a fancy dress wig in Australia's green-and-gold colours as a beard. <br /><br />Warner is alleged to have tried to grab the beard and then swung a punch before other players intervened.</p>
<p>Australia batsman David Warner issued an apology on Thursday for getting involved in a late night bar-room fracas with young England player Joe Root. <br /><br /></p>.<p>"It's true I struck Joe in the face and I'm here today (Thursday) to put my hand up and apologise publicly to Joe and to own up to my actions," Warner told a news conference. "I'm extremely remorseful.’’ <br /><br />"I've let down my team-mates, the Cricket Australia fans, our support staff, myself, my family and I'm extremely apologetic," he added, without explaining how the incident started. <br /><br />Earlier on Thursday, the batsman was suspended until the first Ashes Test on July 10 and fined 11,500 Australian dollars ($10,900) for his part in the incident which occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Birmingham after Australia's Champions Trophy defeat by England. <br /><br />"I won't deny that I had a couple of drinks but it is no excuse for what I did," Warner said at the news conference in London, where team captain Michael Clarke sat beside him. <br />"It was totally out of line, I've sent a text message to Joe, he's accepted my apology and I'm eternally grateful for that.’’<br /><br />"I don't have a drinking problem...but looking back I should not have been in that situation. It's up to me now to be accountable for my actions and to make sure I don't get involved in something like this ever again,’’ he added. <br /><br />British media reported that the "unprovoked physical attack", in the words of the England and Wales Cricket Board, was triggered by Root wearing a fancy dress wig in Australia's green-and-gold colours as a beard. <br /><br />Warner is alleged to have tried to grab the beard and then swung a punch before other players intervened.</p>