Captain Michael Clarke says it will be difficult for errant batsman David Warner to hold his place in the Australian side for next month's first Ashes Test after his bar room punch-up with England's Joe Root.
Writing in Sydney's Daily Telegraph today, he said Warner's actions were an unwelcome distraction at the beginning of a four-and-a-half month tour of England and he must work hard to win back the trust of his teammates and Australian fans.
The explosive opener was fined Aus$11,500 ($11,000) and suspended until the start of the Ashes series by Cricket Australia last Thursday for the incident during the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Warner will miss the rest of title-holders Australia's involvement in the tournament and their two warm-up matches before he is again available for the first Test against England at Nottingham, which starts on July 10.
But Clarke said it would be difficult for opener Warner to keep his place, given what has happened.
"David has been punished and must now suffer the consequences," he wrote in his newspaper column.
"He will miss most of the Champions Trophy and our two lead-up games before the first Test at Trent Bridge, making it difficult for him to retain his place in the Test side.
"David has accepted the punishment and knows he must work hard for the remainder of the tour to win back the trust of his teammates and Australia's cricket-loving public," he added.
