Warner refutes claims of disrespect

David Warner has rejected claims he failed to applaud rival Joe Root’s century during the first Ashes Test.

Matthew Hayden and Brendon McCullum both criticised Warner for a lack of a response when Root scored his ton in Cardiff, putting England on track for a 169-run win.

Hayden noted the “common courtesy” of recognising a hundred should have been maintained, while McCullum called on Warner to “show more respect” on the field.

Warner asserts he’s innocent of the charge.

“If the camera had stayed on me for the five minutes that he celebrated they’d have seen me clap alongside all the other guys,” Warner said.

“The captions they use are always going to be a snapshot of you doing something, and the time that photo was taken was probably a minute-and-a-half after he raised his bat.

Image Id: ~/media/75FE413D6F7B4B26A8CFE1A29AFE1B05

Warner and Root shake hands before the Cardiff Test // Getty Images

Warner and Root have a chequered past, with their infamous pub stoush of 2013 a talking point that was again raised prior to the first Test, but the Australian was adamant he did indeed applaud his English counterpart.

 “We all clap, we always do and we always will continuing acknowledging people’s knocks,” he added.

“It was disappointing that it did come out to say that I didn’t clap when I did.”

The left-handed opening batsman has been dismissed three times by off-spinner Moeen Ali in this Ashes series and was asked about the prospect of England potentially adding leg-spinner Adil Rashid to the mix on what is expected to be a turning track in Birmingham for next the third Test starting next Wednesday.

“The way he’s been bowling has been fantastic – we’ve had a look at him during the one-day series (against New Zealand) on some turning wickets and he’s been bowling great,” Warner said.

“If there is two spinners, then we have to assess that and keep batting as positively as we can.”

Moeen snares Warner in the deep (Australia only)

The 28-year-old did however, concede he had perhaps been excessive in his aggression towards Ali.

"When we talk about Graeme Swann – fantastic bowler,” he said.

“I think the difference with Swanny was he was very consistent and always in the same areas. It was hard for you to score as a batsman, so you had to try and change the patterns.

“With Moeen, I don't think we really have to go as hard against him.

“No disrespect to Moeen, but you will get that bad ball whereas Swanny was relentless and you never really got that bad ball, especially as a left-hander.

“The other day (at Lord’s), coming out probably too hard and too aggressive was probably silly on my behalf.

“It was a brain snap but my plan was to go after him.

“I always say I will go down the way I want to go down, and that’s what happened but when I look back at it cost me a fair few runs.”

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