Warner axed after alleged bust-up
David Warner has been left out of Australia's Champions Trophy clash with New Zealand for an alleged physical altercation with an England player.
Warner has been reported under the Cricket Australia (CA) code of conduct for breaching Rule 6: Unbecoming Behaviour - for the second time in recent weeks - after the incident. It allegedly took place after his side's opening game in the tournament, which they lost by 48 runs to England on Saturday.
A statement on CA's website read: "Cricket Australia (CA) advises that Australian batsman David Warner has been stood down from Australia's ICC Champions Trophy match against New Zealand tonight after being reported for breaching the CA Code of Behaviour."
It continued: "Warner has been reported for breaching Rule 6: Unbecoming Behaviour after he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with an England player ... following the ICC Champions Trophy match between the teams in Birmingham."
The England player has not been named by CA. It has been widely reported that the England player involved was batsman Joe Root, though that has not been confirmed.
Warner had been expected to play against New Zealand despite a dismal run of form which continued with an innings of nine off 21 balls against England.
The left-hander failed to score in warm-up games against India and the West Indies and has reached double figures just once in his last seven innings, making 44 in Delhi Daredevils' Indian Premier League defeat to Chennai Super Kings.
The CA statement, though, continued: "Team management have stood down Warner pending the outcome of the hearing, meaning he will miss Australia's match against New Zealand in Birmingham.
"Rule 6 states: Without limiting any other rule, players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket."
The incident continues a difficult time for Warner, who was last month fined 5,750 Australian dollars (£3,700) following an outburst on Twitter. Warner was given the maximum available fine after he pleaded guilty to breaching rule 6 of the code of conduct over an argument with journalists Robert Craddock and Malcolm Conn.
