(Reuters) – Australia batsman David Warner has been dropped from the team’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand for an alleged physical altercation with an England player, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Wednesday.
The flamboyant left-hander, who was primed to open the batting for Australia in back-to-back Ashes series against England starting in July, has been reported for breaching the code of behaviour.
“Warner…was allegedly involved in (an incident) with an England player in the early hours of Sunday morning following the ICC Champions Trophy match between the teams in Birmingham,” the governing body said in a statement.
“Team management have stood down Warner pending the outcome of the hearing, meaning he will miss Australia’s match against New Zealand in Birmingham tonight (Wednesday).”
CA said it would make no further comment until the hearing, the time and date for which had yet to be confirmed.
Local media reports said the England player involved in the incident with Warner was young batsman Joe Root.
“The England and Wales Cricket Board confirms that David Warner initiated an unprovoked physical attack on a member of the England team in a Birmingham bar following England’s 48-run victory over Australia,” the ECB said in a statement.
“Warner has admitted behaving inappropriately and has since apologised to the player involved who has accepted the apology.
Following a full investigation the England team management has concluded that the England player was in no way responsible for nor retaliated to the attack.”
The 26-year-old Warner was fined A$5,750 ($5,400) last month by CA for a Twitter outburst against two journalists.
Australia were already without regular captain Michael Clarke, who has not recovered from a back injury, for Wednesday’s group match against their trans-Tasman rivals which they need to win to retain a chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Australia play Sri Lanka in their final Group A match at The Oval in London on Monday.
