Reports have emerged that David Warner’s CCTV captured outburst with South African star Quinton de Kock was allegedly sparked by comments made about Warner’s wife.
The footage has put tensions between the Australian and South African sides at breaking point after Warner had to be restrained by teammates during the fiery exchange.
The Daily Telegraph have reported the footage was triggered by disparaging comments made about the Australian vice-captain’s model wife, Candice Warner.
The heated exchange was captured on CCTV footage from outside the players changerooms during the tea break at Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.
David Warner looks set to find himself in more hot water after he had to be restrained (above) by teammates during a fiery exchange with South African star Quinton de Kock
So intense was their encounter that Warner needed to be held back by teammates – including captain Steve Smith – as tensions between the pair threatened to boil over.
The incident came as Australia gained total control on the fourth day of the first Test, needing just one more wicket on the final day to clinch a one-nil lead in the series.
In response to the dispute, cricket great Adam Warner said Warner was lucky to have his teammates to diffuse the situation while Cricket South Africa added the altercation ‘was not in the spirit of the game’.
‘It’s rather unfortunate that the incident took place and certainly not in the spirit of the game,’ South Africa’s team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement.
‘The match referee had spoken to us after the day’s play. We will await any further communication from the ICC around this incident.’
While Cricket Australia was reluctant to comment further on the reason behind the footage, they released a statement acknowledging the altercation.
‘Following the end of the second session (on day four) there was an incident involving David Warner and Quinton de Kock on return to the changerooms,’ said a Cricket Australia statement.
‘The incident was discussed between the two team managers and the match referee last night and it is now in the hands of the on field umpires and the match referee.
‘Both teams were reminded by the match referee of the spirit in which the game should be played.’
So intense was the verbal stoush that Warner needed to be held back by teammates, including captain Steve Smith (pictured), as tensions between the pair threatened to boil over
The effort of Australian players including Smith, Khawaja, Tim Paine and Nathan Lyon to come between the pair did little to deter a fired-up Warner
The CCTV footage begins innocuously with the Australians walking from the field of play and up to the changerooms just moments after the end of the second session.
But within seconds of fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitch Marsh making their way up the stairs, a commotion can be seen beginning in the background.
Warner can be seen reluctantly being pushed up the stairs by his teammate Usman Khawaja, as he appears to yell intensely at someone further down the stairwell.
Moments later de Kock and his teammate Aiden Markram emerge into view, with the fiery Australian batsman continuing to yell in their direction.
Attempts of Australian players including Smith, Khawaja, Tim Paine and Nathan Lyon to come between the pair did little to deter a fired-up Warner.
Warner’s wife Candice (pictured) was allegedly at the centre of a CCTV-captured spat between the Australian vice-captain and South African batsman Quinton de Kock
Hearing the commotion from the stairwell, South African players also emerge out of their changerooms, before quickly becoming involved in the trading of barbs.
Seemingly fearing the altercation will turn physical, an ICC official can be seen trying to calm the situation by directing players into their respective changerooms.
The incident comes just three years after Warner punched English batsmen Joe Root in a London pub, leading to him being suspended from the 2015 Ashes tour.
Warner and de Kock’s shouting match was the second incident of the day involving the Australian that is likely to catch the attention of the match referee.
Having effected the game-changing run out of AB de Villiers in the first session, the pocket rocket appeared to yell intently in the direction de Villiers’ partner Markram.
Warner (pictured left with his wife) and de Kock’s shouting match was the second incident of the day on Sunday involving the Australian that is likely to catch the attention of the match referee
Nathan Lyon may also come under fire after he appeared to drop the ball close to de Villiers’, who lay helplessly on the ground after losing his wicket.
South Africa finished the day at 9-239 chasing a record target of 417, with de Kock at the crease unbeaten on 81.
Australia need one more wicket to clinch victory, while South Africa require 124 runs to pull off a miracle.