Fresh audio from David Warner’s “unsavoury” incident with Hobart Hurricanes wicketkeeper Matthew Wade over the weekend has revealed the true nature of the altercation.
Warner was seen giving Wade “a shove” following a verbal tit-for-tat that broke out during Sunday afternoon’s Big Bash League match at Blundstone Arena.
Hurricanes batter Tim David was seen putting his hand on Sydney Thunder captain Chris Green during the drinks break, nudging him away from Wade as the two engaged in an apparent war of words.
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What followed between Warner and Wade was then labelled “inappropriate” and “unsavoury” by former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe.
“This is getting a little spicy,” Fox Cricket commentator Dan Ginnane said.
“Warner just gave Wade a little shove there.
“You’ve got two firecrackers going toe to toe. The stuff between Green and Wade was not joking but that was just verbal.”
O’Keeffe continued: “It’s got very testy out there.
“That was inappropriate. I don’t know what went on between that pair.
“Their history goes back a long way as buddies.
“It’s unsavoury. You can’t have contact like that.
“Whether they were half joking, I don’t know. Their body language suggested not. There was an issue out there.”
Warner shoves Wade in ‘demonstration’ | 01:12
According to The Daily Telegraph, Wade had sledged Green about issues with an illegal bowling action earlier in his career, sparking the stoush.
Audio that wasn’t put to air showed that Wade’s altercation with Warner was lighthearted and, to an extent, deliberately theatrical.
After viewing several camera angles of the incident, match officials were convinced there was no malice involved, News Corp reports.
Warner and Wade avoided sanction, with match officials opting not to lay any charges after deeming it to be jocular in nature.
Speaking to Fox Cricket after the match, David downplayed the ordeal, claiming it was just some “friendly” sledging.
“Obviously we know Wadey loves getting into the contest and being a bit feisty,” David said.
“Greeny was winding him up. Suggesting I was going to get run out again or another run out.
“I was just there trying to diffuse it and they were just going at each other a little bit.”
The Hurricanes won the match by five wickets, with David scoring an unbeaten 76 to help the hosts chase he 136-run target with 23 balls to spare.
The Thunder will next face the Melbourne Renegades at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Thursday evening, while the Hurricanes will take on the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium on Wednesday.
