David Warner and Joe Root talk about their 2013 bar brawl; racial allegations emerge
Four days before Ashes 2015, Australia’s David Warner and England’s Joe Root have re-ignited the feud between them which started in a Birmingham bar in 2013. Warner has gone on board for the first time since that fateful event two years ago, hours after England's Champions Trophy victory against Australia at Edgbaston, trying to explain what exactly led to the matter coming to blows and him being suspended for the two subsequent Tests.
Warner recalled that “little things that were going on throughout the night”, but what set off the “unprovoked physical attack” on the England vice-captain was an act of racial mockery by Root. Warner alleged that Root had snatched a green and gold fancy dress wig from the top of the head of a friend of Warner’s, and proceeded to hold it on his face like a beard. Warner explained that he interpreted that action as an insult to South Africa batsman Hashim Amla and took matters into his own hands.
“A mate of mine was actually wearing it on top of his head like a [Lasith] Malinga wig, and [Root] decided to come in and take it off my mate’s head and start acting the way he did.
“When people are drunk that’s what they do but I thought it was a bit inappropriate the way he went about that stuff so I went over and tried to take it off him. I just think in today’s society you shouldn’t be fooling around with that kind of stuff.
“And he probably didn’t mean anything by it at all but I just thought … actually I can’t say I thought … I probably let my aggression and alcohol take over there and probably made an excuse for me to go over there and actually take it off him.”
Warner had to be dragged from the bar by a friend, on the way out of which he claims to have seen England bowler Steven Finn “asleep in the gutter”.
Warner’s excuse sounds ridiculous: Root
Joe Root responded to the allegations made against him by rubbishing Warner’s claims, and stressing that he was more focussed on the match this week than any war of words.
He said, “Disappointing to have my character questioned – those who know me realise how ridiculous Warner’s excuse for hitting me sounds but that’s his choice to try and justify his actions. I’m just extremely excited about next week and getting back out there”.
Warner is lined up to face both Root and Finn on the 1st Test which starts on Wednesday, his two British companions from the night of violence two years ago.
1/2 Disappointing to have my character questioned- those who know me realise how ridiculous Warner's excuse for hitting me sounds...
— Joe Root (@joeroot05) July 4, 2015