David Warner’s wife Candice allegedly targeted by Quinton de Kock in CCTV blow up
RELATIONS between Australia and South Africa have descended to their lowest point after fury raged over Quinton de Kock’s personal slur against David Warner’s wife. But Shane Warne says sledging is part of the game and they just need to have a beer.
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RELATIONS between Australia and South Africa have descended to their lowest point after fury raged over Quinton de Kock’s personal slur against David Warner’s wife.
But Shane Warne says sledging is part of the game and they just need to have a beer.
“Chat, banter, sledging has always been apart of any series between SA & Oz,” he tweeted.
“Both sides always give it out. Respect is the key & I hope nothing personal was said to any player towards anyone from either side. Have a beer together afterwards & get on with it — stop the whinging (sic).”
The Australians are livid that de Kock brought the name of Candice Warner into the blow-up captured on CCTV from the ground, with the former ironwoman and the couple’s young family on tour in Durban.
However, the South African camp have passionately countered their side of the story and alleged to match officials that Warner and the Australians did in fact get personal with de Kock as well.
Chat, banter, sledging has always been apart of any series between SA & Oz. Both sides always give it out. Respect is the key & I hope nothing personal was said to any player towards anyone from either side. Have a beer together afterwards & get on with it - stop the whinging !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 5, 2018
Steve Smith is adamant Warner didn’t get cross the line with personal sledging with de Kock in the lead-up to the ugly battle outside the dressing rooms and said he understood the emotiveness of his vice-captain’s reaction.
Both sides are at war and Warner and de Kock could face sanction.
Warner has regularly been subjected to vile taunts about his wife and family from opposition crowds in countries like New Zealand, England and South Africa, including from the Barmy Army in the recent summer.
Smith, who was captured by cameras pulling a fired-up Warner into the Australian room and away from the spat with de Kock, admits that the incident was “regrettable” but stood by Warner’s actions to react to disparaging remarks about his wife.
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“Absolutely (understand the reaction). Those things aren’t on and you can’t be getting into somebody’s personal life like that,” said Smith.
“That’s not on. It’s crossing the line in my opinion. Right now it’s in the hands of the umpires and the match referee, but we want to see the game played in a good hard-fought way and within the spirit of the game.
“As far as I’m aware I don’t think (Australia’s sledging of de Kock) was personal at all. But Faf can say what he likes I guess.
“That’s my opinion — and what I’ve heard from the guys as well. I’m not 100 per cent sure but as far as I’m aware I don’t think we got personal.
“I’m not going to make comment on (allegations Candice Warner was named). Next time you speak to Davey you can ask him I guess but what was said was personal and we don’t want to see that happening anymore.”
Correct Warney....but it’s clear plenty of personal nonsense has been spoken & the man in question I hear from many has been doing it for a while so I guess someone eventually was going to touch a nerve with a response ... #OnOn https://t.co/C3DSPqKhuf
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 5, 2018
However, the South African camp are standing by an opposite version of events with captain Faf du Plessis and team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee claiming that de Kock was also subjected to personal sledging, with allegations from the Proteas that his mother and sister may have been mentioned in some way during the day’s play. Smith and Australia have countered this version of events.
“Obviously there’s going to be two sides to the story but whatever happens out on the field, if you’re giving something you’ve got to take it,” said Moosajee.
Asked about whether the abuse was personal, Moosajee said: “Definitely, definitely. Most definitely. I think the less said on that the better because we obviously weren’t out there. Let the match officials decide.”
Du Plessis said both sides were to blame and that the umpire’s hadn’t done enough to calm down the situation on the field.
“All I’ve heard is there was a lot of personal stuff on the field already, to and from,” said du Plessis.
“Who started it I don’t know. If it was happening on the field it probably should have been nipped in the bud on the field already. The fact that it spilt over off the field, that shouldn’t have happened.
“If you want to go personal (that’s us included) then it needs to stay on the field.”
Former South African captain Graeme Smith, who is now a commentator, said Warner had to accept fault.
“Warner crossed many personal boundaries with the South Africans, so we can’t be surprised when there is eventually a reaction,” tweeted Smith.
“If players are happy to give it, they have to be prepared to take it, too. On both sides! But agreed not a good look.”
Warner had to be restrained by teammates Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine and Smith as he continued to exchange words with de Kock.
South African captain Faf du Plessis then emerged from the Proteas rooms wearing a towel and attempted to calm the situation down as players finally separated and returned to their respective rooms for the tea break.
Former Australian great Adam Gilchrist says Warner is lucky his teammates were there to save him and criticised the vice-captain for his actions.
“It’s not a good look, and if there’s one thing that David Warner needs to be very thankful of, it’s for his teammates being in the way there,” Gilchrist told Radio SEN.
“Because if they were not there and he goes on the path that he was intending, who knows what would have happened.
“In any sporting contest, in any contest, when you start getting a bit violent on or off the field it’s a no-brainer, it’s not acceptable.
“So he’s lucky and he should thank his teammates from being in the way.
“I don’t know what provoked it, but it’s not something you can do and you’ve got to be able to balance that up and contain that.
“I’ve been in heated exchanges before and I know that it can get really difficult because you have so much pride in representing your country.
“You want to do it well and you’ve got methods and ways of going about that, but I think on reflection and watching that, once the emotion and the aggression is taken away from it David has to be a little bit disappointed that he ‘s done that and allowed this whole discussion to start up.”