David Warner dropped by Australia

Australian cricket again captures the wrong headlines as one of their players is investigated over attack.

David Warner Press Conference
Warner is being investigated by Cricket Australia over claims he attacked an England player [GALLO/GETTY]

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 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 (on Wednesday).”

CA said it would make no further comments until the hearing, the time and date for which was yet to be confirmed.

The 26-year-old opener was also fined $5,400 last month by Cricket Australia (CA) for a Twitter outburst against two journalists.

Australia lost Saturday’s opening match against England by 48 runs and are already without regular captain Michael Clarke, who has not recovered from a back injury, for Wednesday’s crucial group match against their trans-Tasman rivals.

Australia will play Sri Lanka in their final Group A match at The Oval in London on Monday.

Source: Reuters