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Boof backs Warner as vice-captain

Coach Lehmann says opener remains crucial part of leadership group, urges both teams to not get personal on the field

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has backed David Warner to remain in his post as vice-captain as the fallout continues from the opener's staircase altercation with Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

No charges have yet been handed down by first Test match referee Jeff Crowe for the incident at tea on day four that saw a physically-restrained Warner and de Kock trade verbal barbs in the staircase outside the players' dressing rooms at Kingsmead.

CCTV shows Warner-de Kock incident

Warner has been vice-captain since 2015 when he was appointed as Steve Smith's deputy following the international retirement of Michael Clarke at the end of that year's Ashes series in England.

He's since stepped up as skipper in Smith's absence on 12 occasions – three one-day internationals and nine T20Is – and last month led the T20 side to a tri-series title that saw him miss Australia's only tour match in South Africa. 

Whatever the punishment handed down by Crowe, if there is one, Lehmann says Warner will remain as part of the tourists' leadership group.

"He's vice-captain of the Australian cricket team," Lehmann told reporters in Durban.

"We’re certainly supporting David.

"We want to play a way that gets us success and for us we’ve just got to make sure we don’t cross the line, that’s the key."

Proteas legend weighs in on stairway incident

While both Smith and his Proteas counterpart Faf du Plessis agree the incident that spilled over the boundary and up the player race to the mouth of the dressing rooms crossed the line, both camps appear split as to the genesis of the ugly episode.

It has been alleged de Kock instigated the commotion by saying derogatory comments about Warner’s wife, Candice, while former South Africa captain and SuperSport broadcaster Graeme Smith said he heard the Australians getting personal towards the Proteas gloveman on the stump microphones.

When asked after play in Durban on Monday which party started it, du Plessis replied: "All I've heard is there was a lot of personal stuff on the field already, to and from (both sides).

"Who started it I don't know. If it was happening on the field it probably should have been nipped in the bud on the field already.

It needs to stay on the field: Faf

"The fact that it spilled over off the field, that shouldn't have happened."

When posed the same question, Smith said: "We were certainly very chirpy out on the field as well. As far as I'm aware we didn't get personal towards Quinton.

"But look – what he said got a little bit personal towards Davey – and as we saw it certainly provoked an emotional response.

"That's from my opinion – and what I've heard from the guys as well.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure but as far as I'm aware I don't think we got personal."

The second Test starts on Friday in Port Elizabeth and Lehmann says the captains and coaches from both sides will likely get together to clear the air before the teams lock horns again.

De Kock's 'personal' sledging out of line: Smith

The two captains traditionally meet before the start of the series, but it appears they will reconvene again for their second meeting in the space of a fortnight.

"Both sides are going to push the boundaries," Lehmann said. "That’s part and parcel of Test match cricket.

"It’s a bloody tough game out there and you’re representing your country. Very proud countries, both sides.

"The way they want to play is fiercely competitive on the ground.

"As long as it doesn’t get personal, that’s probably the key."

First Test wrap: Aussies triumph in Durban duel

While the cricketing world awaits the outcome of the Warner-de Kock incident, Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee and given one demerit point for his involvement in the run out of AB de Villiers on Sunday.

After dislodging the bails to run out de Villiers, Lyon dropped the ball, which grazed the chest of the batsman who was on the ground next to the pitch having dived back to make his ground.

Lyon accepted the charge handed down by Crowe and has since been in contact with de Villiers to apologise.

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage