Cricket Australia send a letter of complaint to Cricket South Africa after coach Darren Lehmann describes the verbal abuse as “disgraceful”
Friday 23 March 2018 19:17, UK
David Warner was the target of abusive comments from a spectator on the second day of Australia's third Test against South Africa.
The fan walked up to and directed the comments at Warner as he left the field after being dismissed at Newlands.
Television footage shows Warner stopping in his tracks and turning to face the man, who then appeared to continue making comments as Warner walked up the stairs toward the Australia dressing room.
A security official tried to intervene but the man kept on going at Warner.
The man, who was thrown out of the ground, was standing beside a small fence which separates an exclusive members' stand from the players' stairs. As Warner went up the stairs on his side, the middle-aged man, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, jeans and sunglasses, also walked up on his side and continued talking.
The fan had started by applauding Warner, sarcastically it seems, as the Australian approached and then became abusive.
Cricket Australia have sent a letter of complaint to their South African counterparts over the verbal abuse, which Australia coach Darren Lehmann described as "disgraceful" after the close of play.
"I think it has been disgraceful, you are talking about abuse of players and their families, it is not on anywhere in the world," Lehmann said.
"You can have your banter, but they have gone too far here. We have written to Cricket South Africa, we will wait to see their response.
"They (the crowd) have got to be better than that when they come to international events, it is just disgraceful.
"Not on this level, we cannot accept it anywhere in the world, talking about players and their families. There have been various incidents throughout the series, but it has been particularly bad in this Test."
Warner has become a target for extra attention from home fans after his confrontation with South Africa's Quinton de Kock on a stadium staircase during the first test in Durban.
That heated argument, which led to ICC disciplinary hearings and sanctions for both players, was sparked by Warner's prolonged on-field taunting of De Kock.
It resulted in De Kock allegedly retorting with an unsavoury comment about Warner's celebrity wife, and Warner having to be physically restrained by team-mates.
Watch day three of the third Test between South Africa and Australia, live from 8.30am on Saturday on Sky Sports Cricket.
