David Warner fined for staircase incident

David Warner fined for staircase incident, Quinton de Kock contests charge

Warner was fined 75 percent of his match fee, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said, and received three demerit points for his role in the incident at Kingsmead stadium during the tea break on day four of the opening Test on Sunday.

David Warner smiles at the end of the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead stadiumPhoto:AP

Australia vice-captain David Warner escaped a ban on Wednesday after pleading guilty to bringing cricket into disrepute for his confrontation with South Africa's Quinton de Kock in a stadium staircase during the first Test in Durban over the weekend. Warner was fined 75 percent of his match fee, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said, and received three demerit points for his role in the incident at Kingsmead stadium during the tea break on day four of the opening Test on Sunday.

Warner admitted the level two offence, which can carry up to four demerit points and which would lead to a ban. But with only three demerit points, the opening batsman is free to play in the second Test starting on Friday in Port Elizabeth.

Warner was involved in a heated argument with de Kock on a staircase leading to the dressing rooms as players came off for the tea break on the fourth day in Durban. During the confrontation, which was caught on a stadium security camera, an angry Warner had to be restrained by a number of his teammates as he directed comments at de Kock.

The incident was the result of on-field verbals between the teams during play, which then spilled over as players made their way to their respective dressing rooms. The sledging between the teams got out of hand when Warner and de Kock started making personal comments about each other's family members, according to the team captains.

De Kock was charged with a less serious level one offence related to bringing the game into disrepute but is contesting the charge and will have a hearing on Wednesday evening, the South Africa team said.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Sundaram Ravi, third umpire Chris Gaffaney, and fourth umpire Allahudiean Palekar.

Australia leads the four-Test series 1-0 following a commanding 118-run win in Durban in a match undermined by a series of heated on-field incidents.

Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon had already pleaded guilty to a charge for his celebration of South Africa batsman AB de Villiers' run out. In the celebration, Lyon intentionally dropped the ball onto de Villiers, who was lying sprawled on the ground after being run-out.

Warner, after playing a part in that same run-out, celebrated with a taunting tirade at the other South Africa batsman at the crease, Aiden Markram.

Australia quick bowler Mitchell Starc and South Africa batsman Theunis de Bruyn had a series of verbal exchanges during one over later in the day.