Obviously, Warner is not prioritising the aspects that he should be focusing on — why his team lost after being one-up in the series and what stopped him from ensuring his contribution was a match-winning one.

Whether a team is up to tricks is for the International Cricket Council’s match officials to spot and deal with. And even if there was a doubt, it should have been expressed to the match referee Roshan Mahanama by Warner’s captain Michael Clarke behind close doors.

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Stricter action needed
The fine imposed by the ICC 15 per cent of his match fee is far too light for an offence that involves accusing a team of cheating in public and the apex cricket body must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to players questioning their opponents’ integrity. Warner’s act also appears to be a case of sour grapes.

Warner has not learnt from his recent controversies that involved landing a punch on England batsman Joe Root in Birmingham in 2013. Earlier that year, Warner launched a Twitter tirade against two prominent Australian journalists, Robert Craddock and Malcolm Conn after Craddock called the Indian Premier League in which Warner was participating, a “smouldering cesspit.”

Warner’s antics are all the more surprising because Australian cricketers are well-trained to deal with the media. The New South Welshman is a very fine batsman who can turn a Test match in a session. He can also upset his fans and the game in the main with greater alacrity. He must straighten up and fly right.