Aaron Finch reveals the reason behind the growing rivalry against South Africa. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The verbal spat between Australia vice-captain David Warner and South African wicket-keeper Quinton De Kock has got the entire cricketing world talking. The controversy has even extended to the ongoing second Test.
David Warner was at the centre of the storm during the series-opener (Credits: Getty)
Both the teams showed aggressive intent in the first Test. After an on-field altercation between Mitchell Starc and Theunis De Bruyn, the heated conversations between the players reached the dressing room areas.
Image Courtesy: Twitter
A CCTV footage showed the Australia vice-captain and the South Africa wicketkeeper involved in a heated exchange of words.
Quinton de Kock fined over the altercation with David Warner during the Durban Test match. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
The Australians play an aggressive brand of cricket. Even the current crop of players agrees with this fact.
Aaron Finch revealed the real reason behind the growing rivalry between the two teams.
Finch said:
“I think it’s been running for a while. We heard about the last Test series that South Africa played here in Australia, it was very aggressive. The one before (in 2014), where Australia had an unbelievable come-from-behind win in the last Test in Cape Town to seal the series, that was on for young and old from ball one of the Test.”
“So I think the guys that have been around for the last couple of series, there’s a real – I wouldn’t say hatred because I think there’s a genuine respect for the way both teams play – (but) there’s a lot of heat and a lot of build-up over the last couple of series that sits and bubbles away under the surface for a while.”
Finch believes that the Proteas tend to run to the authority. Finch added:
“We’re known for being an aggressive team, but Davey Warner, I’ve heard him cop everything under the sun and I’ve never heard him whinge about it once, I’ve never heard him complain about it.”
“When he has gone close to the line in the past, he’s never shirked away from that, he’s always owned up to it. He’s sat in front of the media and said ‘Yep, you know what I said was defending my family’ like he did in this last one.”
“But I think a lot of other teams, I think South Africa are one of those sides that dish out a little bit, then they’re the first to run and cry poor at the match officials or their team management … there are a few that give it out and then run to the authorities after that.”
