South Africa v Australia Test series: David Warner hit with charge but likely to escape suspension

DAVID Warner and Quinton de Kock have been charged with bringing cricket into disrepute over the staircase stoush that has overshadowed the Test series between Australia and South Africa.

David Warner and family arrive in Port Elizabeth.

DAVID Warner appears set to escape suspension despite being hit with a grade two contrary conduct charge over his stairwell bust-up with Quinton de Kock.

It’s still a possibility Warner could get the four demerit points to constitute a ban, but it’s understood the opener is at this stage only looking at three points going on his record.

He does though face the prospect of receiving a heavy fine.

Australia will respond to the charge later on Wednesday, as will South Africa, after de Kock received a less serious grade one charge – despite making disparaging remarks about Warner’s wife, Candice Warner in the ugly incident.

David Warner and family arrive in Port Elizabeth.

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An appeal seems unlikely from Australia, but such action cannot be ruled out by South Africa given the extreme lengths they went to last time they toured down under to get their captain Faf du Plessis off a ball tampering charge.

Warner will now be walking a tightrope for the rest of the series and for the next two years, with almost any future disciplinary infringement to push him over the line for suspension.

It means the Aussie vice-captain may be forced to tone down his on-field presence in the second Test in Port Elizabeth starting on Friday.

Australia team manager Gavin Dovey and South African counterpart Mohammed Moosaje met with match referee Jeff Crowe on Tuesday to hear the findings, but now have until Wednesday (EDT) to respond.

The Australian camp are fuming that de Kock brought Warner’s wife into the dust-up, however, they are taking the view that Warner should have handled himself better in his response.

Therefore they’re unlikely to dispute the fact de Kock got off with a lower charge, this despite the fact that Australia claim they never made comments of a personal nature about the South African.

David Warner will be under plenty of pressure for the rest of the tour.

However, it remains to be seen whether South Africa are willing to admit that de Kock was out of line.

Despite video footage two summers ago showing du Plessis sucking on a mint before shining a ball in the Hobart Test match, South Africa appealed their skipper’s guilty finding in a bid to clear his name.

It failed.

Should South Africa accept the charge as Australia intend to then a line will be drawn under the matter.

Originally published as South Africa v Australia Test series: David Warner hit with charge but likely to escape suspension