Reports: Australian players want David Warner removed from the team hotel
According to foxsports.com.au, a majority of the Australian players want David Warner removed from the team hotel. Reportedly, the Australian vice-captain partied with friends from outside his cricketing circle and 'swilled champagne' in the team hotel's bar after Australia's 322-run loss in the third Test against South Africa in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal. This, supposedly, infuriated his teammates.
The report goes on to state that players have warned those managing the sport in Australia that there could be an altercation between Warner and others if the former is not directed to leave the hotel. On top of that, the left-handed opener, apparently, left a Whatsapp group of all the Australian players voluntarily after the tampering incident.
After Cameron Bancroft was caught on cameras tampering the ball, captain Steve Smith had told the media that the decision was taken collectively by the team's 'leadership group' at lunch.
"The leadership group knew about it. We spoke about it at lunch. I am not proud of what's happened. It's not within the spirit of the game... It won't happen again."
Later, reports emerged that it was Warner who had suggested others that such a step be taken.
An eye-opening report by Fairfax on the tampering fiasco read, "Those in the hierarchy at CA have been made aware of suggestions that the vice-captain was the chief conspirator and that Smith foolishly agreed.“Sources close to Warner, however, deny that he was the instigator.
“Others close to the Australian dressing room are adamant that the blame should not rest with one or two individuals and that the whole team and set-up around it should take the fall.
“Warner has been the team’s primary ball manager on the ground in recent times but Bancroft, playing in only his eighth Test, took on those duties at Newlands.”
While the skipper has been banned from the fourth Test of the four-match series, Warner looks set to join him on the sidelines as well. Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland is due to arrive in South Africa to complete the investigation started by the head of integrity Iain Roy and if recent developments are anything to go by, the diminutive opener could be handed a substantial ban.