Warner rolls with the verbal punches

Australia

Batsman David Warner acknowledged the irony, after holing out to England fielder Joe Root on day four of the third Ashes Test in Manchester on Sunday.

Batsman David Warner acknowledged the irony, after holing out to England fielder Joe Root on day four of the third Ashes Test in Manchester on Sunday.

Warner, who was banned earlier this year after trying to punch Root during the Champions Trophy, scored 41 in a total of 172 for seven before offering his counterpart a straightforward catch at deep square-leg.

Australia cherished a 331-run lead despite the left-hander's dismissal, but will require the rain and bad light that marred the weekend's play to steer clear on Monday – if they are to push for victory – and reduced a two-nil series deficit.

"Yeah, I hooked another one to Root," he said. "Out of all the people on the field…it's quite comical. I'm just waiting to read Twitter a bit later.

"I'm not well-liked at the moment, but this morning was actually quite entertaining down on the boundary.

"There were a few hungover people and a few people not quite speaking what their minds were, which was fortunate.

"Come Monday, when I'm out on the boundary and they're full again, I think I might cop it."

Either way, Warner will just keep rolling with the proverbial punches.

"I actually liked the trumpeter playing the Rocky theme song," he added. "It was actually entertaining for me, and I had a little chuckle.

"Obviously it was all my fault. I just have to keep embracing it. Someone does get picked out, and this time it's me.

"I've got to keep my head down and focus on what my task ahead is – and that's scoring runs."

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