Tim Paine is adamant that Quinton de Kock (left) instigated the entire incident with David Warner
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine has insisted that South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was to blame for the confrontation with David Warner.
The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed Warner being physically restrained by his teammates while speaking to De Kock as the players went up the steps for the scheduled tea interval on the fourth day of the first Test in Durban.
Both players have been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Warner could even miss the second Test, which starts on Friday in Port Elizabeth. As for De Kock, he may have to pay a hefty fine.
Reports say that De Kock made some derogatory comments about Warner’s wife Candice, while the Australian vice-captain made disparaging remarks about De Kock’s family and even called the 25-year-old a “bush pig”.
De Kock’s sister, Dalean, even lashed out at Warner via Twitter, saying: “Wtf (what the f**k) ! I’ll hurt you @davidwarner31.”
However, like Australia captain Steve Smith, Paine pointed out that De Kock instigated the entire incident.
“That’s completely false. At no stage was Quinton’s family mentioned, that’s 100% false,” Paine was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “I don’t know how their team manager [Mohammed Moosajee] can hear from where he’s sitting, but from where I was, which was right nearby the whole time, there was nothing we said that was inappropriate.
“We were trying to make it an uncomfortable place for Quinton to bat, no doubt, but we didn’t cross the line. We spoke about cricket stuff and a few little things with his fitness.
“Our stuff is the way we’ve always played our cricket. Certainly it’s hard, and we like to make them feel uncomfortable out there. But we don’t cross the line and bring people’s wives and family into the cricket game. And we’ll continue to do that for as long as we play.
“Obviously the situation wasn’t ideal for both sides and it was regrettable what happened up the stairs, but it’s disappointing that they’ve come out now and said a few things that are just blatantly untrue.”
Paine added that had Warner been able to get any closer to De Kock, there was no telling what he would have done.
“I don’t know what would have happened to be honest, but he was certainly extremely fired up and he had every right to be,” Paine said. “I think at the time when it was actually said, I think I was probably the only person that heard it.
“Usman had gone a bit further ahead and I was about to walk around them both, I just thought they were still going on just from the general chatter that was on the ground. As I went past de Kock he said what he said, and luckily I suppose I was there in between.
“Once he [Warner] got off his chest what he wanted to say, once he sat down, there was no issue. He is not the sort of bloke who will whinge about being sledged, I’ve hear blokes say a lot of things on the cricket field that don’t bother him, I have never seen him react like he reacted when we were coming off the field.
“People have said if he gives it he is going to have to take it, all that sort of rubbish, which is fine on the field, but when you are bringing people’s families or wives into it it’s unacceptable.”