The first question goes like this. The incident occurred on Sunday at 2.30am at the Walkabout pub in Birmingham. Yet there was no mention of it in any media during the whole of Sunday. It was only on Monday that the press started reporting the incident at length. The question, therefore, is: Why did it take 36 hours for the incident to be reported in the media? Why wasn't it reported real time in this 24x7 age?
The second question comes with a revelation. According to sources present in the pub, both Warner and Root had kissed and made up. They agreed to forgive and forget the incident. Then, why did the story come to light and was reported as an 'unprovoked assault' on Joe Root?
The use of the word 'unprovoked' is most interesting. If eyewitnesses are to be believed, Root was trying to wear his wig like a beard in trying to impersonate Hashim Amla and was making some communally offensive comments. Apparently, Warner objected to this. A scrap followed and Warner ended up punching Root in the chin. Terrible. Warner's actions are condemnable, but Root doesn't come through smelling of roses either, according to this version of eyewitnesses.
Being a repeat offender, Warner is now a soft target. On top of this, he is disliked by an influential section in the Australian media for his intemperate tweets. To say something against him is far easier than saying something against the likes of George Bailey. Knowing full well that Warner is a key member of the Australian Ashes squad, was this incident was blown out of proportion to push the Australians into a corner and throw their Ashes preparations into disarray?
Following Warnergate, there are questions about the Australian team culture, Michael Clarke's ability to keep the team together and over Warner's ability to keep a check on his fondness for booze. As things stand, England have a head start even before the Ashes have begun thanks to Warnergate.
What's interesting, though, is that the Australian media has for once played into the hands of the English. Comments like "this is the real Warner" made by senior Australian journalists pleased the English no end. Clarke too finds himself in a corner with CA CEO James Sutherland questioning the role of the team management in handling the incident.
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