Warner in trouble after bar-room brawl

BIRMINGHAM: David Warner's hopes to be seen as a possible future Australian captain had already taken a beating post his much-criticised tweet last month. On Tuesday, he may have spoilt his chances further by getting into a physical, 'unprovoked' altercation with a member of the England team, unofficially said to be Joe Root.

On Wednesday morning, after the altercation -- learnt to have taken place in a bar here -- was reported to the officials of the ICC, Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Warner was immediately dropped from the team on Wednesday morning ahead of Australia's match against New Zealand.

CA said in a statement that the player had been reported for breaching its code of conduct relating to "unbecoming behaviour". "Warner was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with an England player in the early hours of Sunday morning following the Champions Trophy match between the teams in Birmingham," CA said. CA said it would not comment further until after the disciplinary hearing.

ECB also said Warner had "initiated an "unprovoked physical attack on a member of the England team in a Birmingham bar following England's 48-run victory over Australia" in the team's opener at Edgbaston.

It added: "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."

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Warner, who was with a group of half a dozen Australians, allegedly struck Root with a "glancing blow", and had to be restrained by bowler Clint McKay. Root is not understood to have been hurt.

England captain Alastair Cook later confirmed the identity of the player involved as Yorkshire batsman Root. "Joe seems fine," Cook told a news channel. "It's unfortunate this has happened and he wants to put it behind him. After investigating it from our side, we don't believe we have done anything wrong. It's a shame."

Warner last month came under fire for a Twitter tirade directed at two Australian journalists after a story about fixing in the IPL was illustrated with a picture of him. He was found guilty of breaching CA's code of behaviour and fined Aus$5,750 (US$5,608).

(with input from agencies)

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Shweta Pandey

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