David Warner is at it again!
Warner famously punched Joe Root at in a Birmingham nightclub and overnight he became embroiled in another physical confrontation – this time with Quinton de Kock.
Warner and de Kock had to be physically separated by their teammates and there is sure to be plenty of tension when the action resumes tonight.
This is certainty not the first fight in cricket history and we have put together this list of the best physical confrontations to occur in what was once known as the Gentleman’s Game!
Mitchell Johnson vs Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been involved in a confrontation with Australian players on a number of occasions, but this is probably the most famous.
During the 2014/2015 Test Series against India in Australia, Kohli and a number of other Indian players were involved in a running battle with Mitchell Johnson and it reached a head when Johnson hurled a ball straight at Kohli!
Mitchell Johnson vs Kevin Pietersen
It should come as no surprise that Johnson will make multiple appearances on this list or that Kevin Pietersen would be involved.
There is a great deal of bad blood between Johnson and Pietersen that still lingers to this day and they were constantly at other during the 2013 Ashes Series in Australia.
Michael Clarke vs James Anderson
The 2013 Ashes Series really was not played in particularly good spirit.
There was a great deal of animosity between the two sides and that was clear to see when Michael Clarke told Jimmy Anderson to ‘get ready for a broken ****ing arm’.
Brad Haddin & Mitchell Johnson vs Sulieman Benn
Mitchell Johnson is not done yet.
Things almost turned physical when Johnson and Brad Haddin became embroiled in a heated argument with West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn during a Test in Adelaide towards the end of 2009.
Dennis Lillee vs Javed Miandad
The on-field cricket fight is not a modern-day phenomenon.
Dennis Lillee and Javed Miandad were involved in one of the ugly incidents in the history during a Test match in Perth in 1981.
Miandad and Lillee collided in the middle of the pitch – Lillee was probably to blame – and during the argument that followed, Miandad lifted his bat above his head as if to strike Lillee with his willow.
Ian Healy vs Roshan Mahanama
Ian Healy is arguably the best sledger in the history of cricket and it would have been a travesty of justice if he did not make an appearance on this list.
Healy was at his chirpy best during the Tri Series that involved both the West Indies and Sri Lanka in 1995/1996.
Healy clearly offended Sri Lankan batsman Roshan Mahanama, who was so upset that he was clean-bowled by Shane Warne with the very next delivery.
Steve Waugh vs Curtley Ambrose
This was the moment that Steve Waugh famous.
Australia had not beaten the West Indies in a Test Series since 1978 and Waugh had clearly had enough.
Curtley Ambrose was looking particularly dangerous during the third Test of the 1995 Series in Trinidad, but he was constantly defied by Waugh on what was a very tough pitch for batting.
Ambrose attempted to intimidate Waugh, but the Aussie was not having any of it and Ambrose was physically dragged away from Waugh by his captain Richie Richardson.
Glenn McGrath vs Ramnaresh Sarwan
This situation was reversed during Australia’s Tour of the West Indies in 2003.
Glenn McGrath was bowling to Sarwan when he politely asked his rival ‘What does Brian Lara’s c*ck taste like’ to which Sarwan replied ‘I don’t know. Ask your wife.’
McGrath’s wife was in the middle of a battle with cancer at the time and he was not amused whatsoever – with the fast-bowler threatening to rip out Sarwan’s throat.
Shane Warne vs Marlon Samuels
The Big Bash is generally a fairly light-hearted affair, but nobody told that to Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels during the 2013 tournament.
Samuels started things off by interfering with David Hussey and things really kicked off when Warne came on to bowl to Samuels in the second innings of the game!
Mitchell Starc vs Kieron Pollard
Nobody takes the IPL that seriously, but that did not stop Mitchell Starc and Kieron Pollard going at it during the 2014 edition of the tournament.
There were plenty of words shared between the pair, but things escalated when Pollard stepped away as Starc walked into to bowl, who elected to deliberately bowl the ball in Pollard’s direction.
Pollard attempted to throw his bat at Starc before he charged in his direction as all hell broke loose around them.
Starc had the last laugh when he aggressively ran Pollard out a few overs later.