Business Standard

Definitely needed a kick up the bum: Warner

Image

Press Trust of India Pretoria
David Warner has said he needed to be dropped from the Australian Test squad following his pub brawl with Joe Root during which the Aussie landed a punch at the Englishman.

Warner's ban over the incident that took place in a Birmingham pub during the Champions Trophy cost him his place in the first two Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord's.

But he is back in contention for a recall in the third Test at Old Trafford after his 193 during the ongoing unofficial Test match against South Africa A in Pretoria.

"Sitting on the sidelines and copping that punishment and not being selected it was a thing that I needed," Warner was quoted as saying by 'ESPNcricinfo'.
 

"I definitely needed a kick up the bum. It was my own fault the incident that happened. My job was then to support our players, support the rest of the group and do everything I could to help them prepare for the games. I did that and I know the other guys on the tour did the same thing. We've all been working very hard," he added from South Africa.

Warner was sent on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa after being left out of the Trent Bridge Test as Cricket Australia felt the opener needed some time in the middle.

Warner impressed by surviving for more than five hours at the crease here, against a South Africa A attack boasting the promising pace pairing of Kyle Abbott and Marchant de Lange.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Jul 25 2013 | 9:15 PM IST

Explore News