David Warner still has a lot to earn if he wants to be captain

THE two biggest issues today are the arrest of three Indian players for spot-fixing and Australia's Test debacle in India.

David Warner

IN Australia, the two biggest cricket issues today are the arrest of three Indian players for spot-fixing in the IPL and the national team's recent Test debacle in India.

David Warner plays in the IPL and opens the batting for Australia, which makes his Twitter rant yesterday morning extraordinary.

His attack on respected colleague Robert Craddock for exposing the "cesspit" of IPL after-parties was unjustifiable.

Of greater concern to Cricket Australia is the poor language Warner used to express himself, first to "Crash" and then in a sustained exchange with me.

I am all for robust debate. Sportsmen should engage in it more often and Twitter is the perfect medium, but unfortunately it can descend into personal abuse, which forced Australia coach Mickey Arthur to close his Twitter account earlier this year.

Crash and I have been covering cricket for more than two decades and criticism comes with the job. You give it and take it. There is no place for glass jaws.

I'm a great believer in free speech and would prefer Cricket Australia had not become involved as they prepare to charge Warner with making detrimental public comments, but I understand their concerns about the game's image.

It is something Warner should also be concerned about given he has made public his leadership ambitions. He has a lot to learn and a lot of listening to do, which does not appear to be one of his strengths.

Crash is right, the IPL is a cesspit from the top down under the guidance of dodgy Indian board president N. Srinivasan but no players or administrators dare criticise India or the IPL lest their cash cow suddenly runs dry.

David Warner is an outstanding talent who is a joy to watch in full flight and must score heavily in the Ashes for Australia to regain the urn. He is an awfully long way from being captain.