DAVID WARNER has “gone rogue”, according his team-mates, say reports in Australia.
The disgraced vice-captain, 31, has reportedly removed himself from the Australian team’s WhatsApp group.
All the while, his Aussie team-mates are said to have urged Cricket Australia bosses to boot him out of their Cape Town hotel after being spotted swilling champagne in the bar.
The Aussies were fearful of another “incident” according to sources in Cape Town as the ball-tampering row continues to rage on.
Warner is reported to be one of the main instigators in getting Cameron Bancroft to alter the state of the ball against South Africa this weekend.
Bancroft was fined 75 per cent of his match fee and handed three demerit points, while skipper Steve Smith was banned for one Test and lost his entire match wage.
Meanwhile, Smith and Warner were stood down from their captain and vice-captain duties for the remainder of the Third Test in Cape Town, won comfortably by South Africa.
Cricket Australia chiefs have already flown to South Africa amidst an investigation into the Aussies’ admission of cheating.
DEATH OF AUSTRALIAN CRICKET Australia in mourning as nation calls for Smith to be sacked over ball-tampering shame
Now it would appear Smith and his deputy Warner are expected to receive 12-month bans.
Coach Darren Lehmann is also expected to be a casualty as reports state he could leave his post in the next 24 hours.
MOST READ IN CRICKET
Warner has already been dumped in hot water twice this series in South Africa already.
The First Test in Durban was plagued with an ugly row between Warner and Quinton de Kock – with CCTV footage appearing to show the Aussie lose his temper.
The clash was said to stem from a jibe about Warner’s wife, Candice – with the hot-headed Australian calling it “vile and disgusting”.
Warner was then seen clashing with a fan in the first innings of the Third Test having been dismissed.
More recently Candice Warner clashed with former England Test captain Michael Vaughan on Twitter.
Vaughan originally said: “It’s making me chuckle the Aussies are making an official complaint about the personal abuse they are receiving … #please !!!! #SAvAUS”
But Candice hit back, replying: “I’m glad it’s making you laugh.
“Wow so you would approve of the same treatment to your wife and 3 kids??”
Vaughan went on to reply: “Absolutely not … But off field anger in my experience starts with on field behaviour by players … so maybe you need to look closer to home as to why !!!”
Leave a comment