David Warner parties at the team hotel, while his teammates ask for his immediate removal

Reports suggest Warner was the main conspirator behind the ball tampering.

Warner seen sitting by himself at team hotel | (Credit: Nine)

In the aftermath of the ball tampering saga, the Australian team has started to crack under the pressure of the backlash from fans back home and the sponsors. The first casualty of the aftermath seems to be former vice-captain David Warner.

Foxsports.com.au reported that Warner’s Australian teammates want him removed from the team hotel, after Warner reportedly partied in the bar of the team hotel with some non-cricket friends.

The teammates have also warned the cricket bosses that an incident might occur between the angered players and Warner, if he continues to remain with the team.

Foxsports.com.au also reported that Warner removed himself from a WhatsApp group between the players; with one source saying he had ‘gone rogue’ since news of the ball tampering saga broke.

It is also believed that many Australian team members were unaware of the plot to tamper with the ball until the footage of Bancroft’s action was shown on the big screen at the ground. It comes as reports emerged suggesting Warner was the ring leader of the ball-tampering scandal.

Smith said he and the team’s “leadership group” came up with the strategy to tamper with the ball during lunch on day three of the third Test. He copped a one Test ban and fined 100% of his match fees. Warner may join Smith in missing out on the fourth Test, as James Sutherland arrived in South Africa to hand out the verdict of CA’s investigation.

Fairfax Media has been told that Smith and Warner in particular can expect to be sidelined for ‘a stretch of time’,” the report read. Fairfax Media also reported on Tuesday that Warner has emerged “as the central character” in the sorry saga.

Those in the hierarchy at CA have been made aware of suggestions that the vice-captain was the chief conspirator and that Smith foolishly agreed,” the report read.

The report said, “Sources close to Warner, however, deny that he was the instigator. Others close to the Australian dressing room are adamant that the blame should not rest with one or two individuals and that the whole team and set-up around it should take the fall."

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 27 Mar, 2018

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