Expect a hostile reception in England next year, Joe Root cautions David Warner

Ever since Australia’s big two – Steve Smith and David Warner – faced the music for their act in South Africa earlier this year, the rest of the world seems to have gained a moral lead over the Kangaroos. The Aussies, who once followed a strategy of intimidating the opponents successfully, have started getting the taste of their own medicine as the rest of the cricketing world has started seeing them eye to eye.

That the opponents are keen to play the psychological game with the Aussies more readily nowadays was learned when England Test captain Joe Root cautioned the Baggy Greens, and especially Warner, saying the latter would be required to be thick-skinned and expect a more challenging environment if he gets to play the Ashes in 2019. England will host Australia for five Tests in August-September next year and will be eager to avenge the 0-4 loss that they suffered Down Under in 2017-18.

Warner is currently serving a ban of a year along with Smith owing to the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa but has been playing some form of cricket at franchise and club levels. He played the Caribbean Premier League recently and will feature in the Bangladesh Premier League starting in January.

Warner left field after facing abuse in club game

Warner, 32, left the ground mid-innings after he found some hurtful sledging during a Premier Cricket game in Sydney recently but returned to continue with his innings and scored a century, cricket.com.au reported.
Root was perhaps indicating at more of such stuff awaiting Australia when they tour England next year. “I’m sure he will have to accustom himself to what might be a slightly hostile environment from the English public, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens when he comes over in the summer, if he does,” the England captain was quoted as saying.

“I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone, but time will tell as to what happens in the future.” Root, who recently led England to a 4-1 win over India in Tests at home, got involved in an ugly altercation with Warner in a bar in Birmingham during the 2013 Champions Trophy. He said never in his career did he feel bad to leave the ground during a game after facing verbal abuse.

Or is Warner finding life a bit more difficult post the incident in South Africa?

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