Rebecca Wilson: Cricket Australia's response to David Warner's antics unacceptable

THE response from Australian cricket to Dave Warner's bad behaviour proves the sport is culturally cancerous and facing failure in England.

THE bob each way response from Australian cricket to Dave Warner's bad behaviour proves the sport is culturally cancerous, lacking in leadership and facing failure in England.

Warner has been stood down until the first Ashes Test after an incident involving alcohol and aggression in a Birmingham bar. The under-achieving but trumped-up batsman has done little to quell a rising fear that this Australian team is on the nose and completely ill-prepared for what the Ashes campaign may bring.

Cricket Australia's response to Warner's ill-tempered altercation with an English team member is typical of an organisation that has absolutely no clue. When four cricketers failed to complete their homework in India, team vice-captain, Shane Watson, and the other three were banned from the third Test. The petty-minded team leaders deemed the group had brought shame to Australian cricket by refusing to fill out paperwork which had apparently become vital to the team's preparations.

Cricket Australia determined Warner's sins were not nearly as serious. If you are drunk, rough up a player from an opposing team and you are out well after midnight during a tournament, this is a lesser misdemeanour than forgetting your homework.

Captain Michael Clarke expressed his dismay with Warner but ludicrously claimed in the same breath that the wayward opener had leadership skills and abilities which could one day see him grow into a team leader himself.If that is what he thinks, then Clarke is as delusional as his bosses. For someone who once threatened to become a captain in the ilk of a Steve Waugh, his reaction has been hugely disappointing.

Clarke, along with CA boss, the almost invisible James Sutherland and the team of sports scientists, high performance boffins and coaches who now run Australian cricket, are a rabble. They could have proved otherwise this week by sending Warner home and culling his very hefty pay packet until he learned how to behave in a way befitting of the baggy green.

Instead, Warner is likely to play in the first Ashes test. This young cricketer, who has turned himself into a boofhead quicker than any other Australian athlete in memory, is yet to learn a lesson from anything or anyone.

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The culture of the sport has deteriorated to the point that there are no leaders willing to take on the brat pack masquerading as the country's highest paid sportsmen. Warner was out in the dead of night with at least four other cricketers who will all turn out in the Ashes series.

In North Queensland this week, another member of the Gen Y sports club drove with a blood alcohol reading of .19 without a license in a car provided by a sponsor.

New South Wales Origin star, James Tamou thought he might escape with a big fine and no bans. He was actually informed that he was likely to take his place in the Cowboys and Blues sides and escape with a financial penalty.

Somehow, the integrity unit or someone with a hard head at league headquarters stepped in and banned Tamou from club and Origin footy, and fined him $20,000 for good measure.

Blues coach Laurie Daley is seething that the same punishment was not meted out to Queensland player Ben Te'o who denies fracturing the eye socket of a young woman in Brisbane several months ago.

Daley makes a sound point but should realise that such is the culture of the NRL that penalties are not dealt out with any sort of equity. Just like cricket, decisions are made on the run depending on the mood of those in charge.

As far as I'm concerned, Te'o should have been stood down just like Tamou pending an investigation.

Warner should be preparing for the Ashes on his couch,with remote control in hand.

If any of this lot were signed to the Sydney Swans, they would not have a contract to play anything.

They say culture starts at the top and finds its way down very quickly. Cricket and rugby league have endemic leadership problems which mean the Gen Y brats are allowed to offend again and again without any genuine punishment.

The North Queensland Cowboys actually defended Tamou after his 3.30am drive home, claiming an error of judgment. Michael Clarke was happy to see off his vice captain but refused to book an early return ticket for Warner.

Until there are more penalties like those dished out to Tamou, the offenders will keep propping up the bar and causing trouble.

Three weeks ago, Warner sent out a tirade of Twitterbuse about two respected cricket journalists and claimed he wasn't drunk (it was 4am).

He has picked up the slack in Birmingham. If that is how an out of form Australian batsman prepares for the Ashes, we are in deep trouble.