David Warner watches from the balcony this morning as Australia take on New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy
Australia have dropped their opening batsman David Warner for allegedly punching England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar following the two sides' ICC Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston.
The incident occurred at the Australian themed bar The Walkabout at about 2am on Sunday morning according to Australian paper The Age. They claim that Warner 'flashed a ‘‘glancing blow’’ which struck Root on the chin.' All media reports this morning suggest alcohol was a major factor.
The England team on the other hand have released a statement claiming the attack was unprovoked. Their statement read '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.' The utterly gratuitous mention of England's win is sure to further wind up the Australians ahead of the Ashes series which begin in July.
Cricket Australia are unlikely to send home one of their best players as the team are struggling and he will probably face a fine. This is Warner's second indiscretion in a month after he was reprimanded for a Twitter outburst against Australian journalist Malcolm Conn.
This is also not the first booze inspired disaster for an Australian cricketer in England. In 2005, Andrew Symonds was suspended for turning up drunk and falling over a wheelie-bin before Australia's embarrassing loss to Bangladesh.
Unsurprisingly, the England cricketing establishment is revelling in Aussie misfortune.
