"We've got used to Davey over the years. I think the less interest you take in him the better. He can be a bit of a fool at times."
Monday 5 March 2018 10:57, UK
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith says David Warner can be "a bit of a fool" after the Australian batsman's heated exchange with Quinton de Kock.
The incident, which is being investigated by the ICC, came on day four of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban, with the tourists pushing for victory.
Warner celebrated in an aggressive manner after the run out of AB de Villiers and then became embroiled in a verbal altercation with De Kock as the players left the field for tea, with CCTV footage showing that the Australian had to be held back as the players headed to the dressing rooms.
"We've got used to Davey over the years. I think the less interest you take in him the better. He can be a bit of a fool at times."
Nathan Lyon was one of the Australians restraining Warner having earlier earned himself an ICC charge for dropping the ball on De Villiers after the South African's dismissal.
"The Aussies were pretty fired up at that time pushing for a victory," Smith told cricket.com.au. "But he (Lyon) is an experienced cricketer. I think he'll probably say it was unnecessary himself.
"We've got used to Davey over the years. I think the less interest you take in him the better. He can be a bit of a fool at times. It's best just to let him be."
Adam Gilchrist, the ex-Australia wicketkeeper, also had his say on the incidents and believes that such things could turn people away from cricket.
"As an outside observer, I think you would find that a little bit off-putting at times, a little bit bad taste at times," Gilchrist told SEN Radio. "And the question may even come over all those eras as a general statement.
"Australian teams have generally been at the top of the pile, not every minute of those times, but generally they're a very competitive, world-class team, and some would say they don't need to do that.
"Why do you need to present that somewhat ugly look if you're playing such good cricket? And they're not good images and it's hard to know, to comment specifically about this incident overnight, and any other time, unless you're there and know the ins and outs of what was said and what sparked it and the verbal volleys that would have been thrown around.
"Very hard to comment on the detail of it but no denying that some of the parts of the celebration of the run-out of De Villiers and then obviously this incident that I'm sure you're getting to, of this leaked dressing room footage, it's not a very good look.
"I think it needs to be considered how to react in certain scenarios and learn from the scenarios."
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