Paul Harris: “Warner is the type of guy where if things are going well for Australia, he’s got a big mouth, but when they’re losing, he doesn’t say too much”

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Paul Harris has become the second former South African player to take aim at Australia vice-captain and opener David Warner.

After ex-Proteas captain Graeme Smith said that Warner “can be a bit of a fool at times”, Harris chimed in as well, saying that Warner is a “bully”.

“Warner is the type of guy where if things are going well for Australia, he’s got a big mouth, but when they’re losing, he doesn’t say too much,” Harris, a former South Africa left-arm spinner, was quoted as saying by sacricketmag.com. “When he says something and someone comes back at him, then he gets upset. That’s pretty much all the characteristics of a bully.”

Both Smith and Harris’ comments come after CCTV footage emerged and showed Warner being physically restrained by his teammates while trying to confront South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock.

The incident took place while the players were heading up the steps for the scheduled tea break on the fourth day of the first Test in Durban.

Providing his thoughts on the incident, Harris said: “There’s always a common denominator in these sort of things and it seems to be Warner. Speaking to a few of the players, they really don’t give a s**t about what he says. They’re just like, well, he’s quite personal so we’re going to come back at him and see how he takes it.

“I know Quinton de Kock quite well and he won’t take things lying down. If someone’s having a crack at him, he’ll have a go back.”