Ashes scandal as David Warner's wife says Australia players were 'kicked and touched'
Ashes star David Warner's wife has opened up ahead of Australia and England clash
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David Warner's wife has claimed Australia players were 'kicked and touched' after Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal in the second test of the Ashes.
Members of the squad were heckled by members at Lord's, with the footage going viral on social media, after Bairstow was caught wondering out of his crease.
For a sport that prizes itself on being polite and respectful, it certainly left a sour impression with tensions continuing to rise since.
And Warner's wife Candice has claimed some of the abuse Australia players received was physical.
Ashes controversy kicked off after Australia dismissed Jonny Bairstow
"It wasn't just those images," she told Fox News' The Back Page when asked about snaps showing her husband and Usman Khawaja confronted by MCC members.
"It continued up two flights of stairs to the change room and two more flights of stairs up to where the boys were having lunch.
"You don't want to see that anywhere. There were some players who actually were touched, were kicked.
"Usman Khawaja was really upset at what was directed at him as well.'
"Jonny got up and had a few words, David had a few words back at him.
"That whole Test was pretty grubby to be completely honest.
"It was very disappointing, even after the game when the supporters stuck around.
"There were players like Starcy [Mitchell Starc] and Pat Cummins trying to do their media, the vile abuse kept going."
The MCC apologised to Australia players for the way their members behaved, with three members then suspended.
Yet Warner himself said recently that he found the reaction 'crazy' and 'something to behold'.
"I have copped some stuff before from people, but proper grown men, mature people who are meant to be the quietest at the home of cricket, it was something to behold," he said.
"I wish I had a microphone so people could get a sense of how loud it was in there.
"It was crazy. I can't repeat it [what was said] on here."
The fourth Ashes Test gets started on Thursday morning (11am).
England trail the series 2-1 and need to win to keep their hopes of securing the urn alive.
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Australia lead England 2-1 in this year's Ashes
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As for Warner, the Australia star has insisted he doesn't fear Stuart Broad despite the England star taking his wicket 17 times in his career.
"I don't really think about the match-up," the 36-year-old said on the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast.
"You think about the ball that's coming at you, how you are going to score. He bowls in a great area all the time.
"I always love facing Broady. We have two left-handed opening batters and he is one of, if not the best bowler to left-handers in today's game. He is so good at it.
"Jimmy (Anderson) is there as well. These are guys we have watched and played against for a long time."