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SYDNEY, 17 JUNE: Captain Michael Clarke says that it will be difficult for errant batsman David Warner (in photo) to hold his place in the Australian side for next month’s first Ashes Test after his bar room punch-up with England’s Joe Root.
Writing in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph today, he said that Warner’s actions were an unwelcome distraction at the beginning of a four-and-a-half month tour of England and he must work hard to win back the trust of his team-mates and Australian fans. The explosive opener was fined Aus$11,500 ($11,000) and suspended until the start of the Ashes series by Cricket Australia on Thursday for the incident during the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Warner will miss the rest of title-holders Australia’s involvement in the tournament and their two warm-up matches before he is again available for the first Test against England at Nottingham, which starts on 10 July.
But Clarke said that it would be difficult for opener Warner to keep his place, given what has happened.
“David has been punished and must now suffer the consequences,” he wrote in his newspaper column, adding: “He will miss most of the Champions Trophy and our two lead-up games before the first Test at Trent Bridge, making it difficult for him to retain his place in the Test side. David has accepted the punishment and knows he must work hard for the remainder of the tour to win back the trust of his team-mates and Australia’s cricket-loving public.”  Clarke, who has been away from Australia’s one-day team for treatment on a troublesome back, said that they could not afford a repeat of such incidents if they were to regain the Ashes.
“I have made it clear to David that his behaviour is not acceptable for an Australian cricketer,” he said.
“The other five guys who were out drinking with David also know they made a poor decision. If you haven’t got a reason to celebrate you shouldn’t be out at 2:30am and you shouldn’t be drinking with the opposition who have just beaten you,” he added.
Clarke said that sent out the wrong message, adding: “As proud Australians it should hurt when you lose.
There is an enormous difference between being on the winning side of an Ashes series and losing. I know which side of that ledger I want to be on come the end of August. He (Warner) has let the team down and all of those at home who love and support Australian cricket.”