Warner says Ashes axing was needed

David Warner said he needed to be dropped from the Australian Test squad following his pub brawl with Joe Root during which the Aussie landed a punch at the young Englishman.

Warner's ban over the incident that took place in a Birmingham pub during the ICC Champions Trophy cost him his place in the first two Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord's and the left-hander was sent to play for Australia A to get some match practice.

But he is back in contention for a recall in the third Test at Old Trafford after his 193 during the ongoing unofficial Test match against South Africa A in Pretoria.

"Sitting on the sidelines and copping that punishment and not being selected it was a thing that I needed," Warner was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

"I definitely needed a kick up the bum. It was my own fault the incident that happened. My job was then to support our players, support the rest of the group and do everything I could to help them prepare for the games. I did that and I know the other guys on the tour did the same thing. We've all been working very hard," he added from South Africa.

Warner was sent on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa after being left out of the Trent Bridge Test as Cricket Australia felt the opener needed some time in the middle.

Warner impressed by surviving for more than five hours at the crease here, against a South Africa A attack boasting the promising pace pairing of Kyle Abbott and Marchant de Lange.

Image: David Warner

Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images