David Warner Will Have To Accustom Himself To Hostile Environment From English Public: Joe Root

England Test skipper Joe Root has warned that David Warner could face a “hostile environment” if he is a part of Australia squad for the England tour in 2019.

David Warner is currently serving a lengthy ban along with former captain Steve Smith and opener Cameron Bancroft for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March this year.

In the wake of the scandal, Cricket Australia had slapped lengthy bans on the trio. While Smith and Warner received one-year ban each, Bancroft was docked with a nine-month suspension.  Smith also had to give up his captaincy. The trio was banned from playing international and first-class cricket for their states.

But Cricket Australia allowed them to play club cricket and in foreign competitions. As a result, the trio returned to action soon after being banned.

Warner and Smith have already plied their trade in T20 leagues in Canada and Caribbean. Warner also recently signed a deal to play for Sylhet Sixers in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League.

The southpaw is currently playing for Randwick-Petersham. But recently, a bizarre incident took place when he walked off the field during his innings after being sledged.

Warner took exception to comments made by Jason Hughes, the brother of Warner’s former team-mate Phillip Hughes, who died in a tragic on-field incident in 2014.

And if Warner is expecting that the road ahead is going to be easier, then he could be wrong. England star Joe Root has said that the Australian could have a tough time if he visits England next year.

“I’m sure he will have to accustom himself to what might be a slightly hostile environment from the English public,” Root said. “I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone, but time will tell as to what happens.”

While Root said he had never considered walking off the field following a negative comment from an opposition player, he refused to criticise Warner for the same.

“It is something you don’t see very often,” Root said. “But unless you know exactly what went on out there you can’t say if it was a justified thing or not. You don’t know what was said and you don’t know what was involved and what happened out there.”

Warner’s ban, meanwhile, will end in March next year. He is likely to find a spot in Australia’s team for the World Cup as well as the Ashes.