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Cape Town - Former Proteas all-rounder Brian McMillan has hit out at Australia’s David Warner following his altercation with South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.
WATCH: Warner swears at De Kock before bust-up
Both players were punished on Wednesday for the bust-up during the opening Test in Durban, with Warner fined 75 percent of his match fee and De Kock 25 percent.
Emotions boiled over after Warner confronted the Proteas wicketkeeper/batsman as the players walked up a narrow staircase to the dressing rooms during the tea interval last Sunday.
Footage was captured on CCTV and leaked, showing the Australian being restrained by his team-mates.
It has been reported that Warner had called De Kock a "bush pig" and made derogatory statements about his mother and sister, while De Kock is believed to have responded with a “vile remark” about Warner’s wife.
Video footage also emerged of Warner calling De Kock a "f***ing sook" just as the players left for tea on Day 4 of the Durban Test.
McMillan, who was involved in several “verbals” with the Australians during his playing days, believes Warner was looking for trouble.
“It’s an old trick of his - to say sniping and personal things - but when it comes back his way he loses his temper,” McMillan told Netwerk24.
“It just shows that he can’t take what he dishes out. Typical short man syndrome. He needs to grow up,” McMillan continued, referring to the fact that Warner is just 1.7m tall.
The Australian camp denied that Warner had said anything personal towards De Kock, but McMillan implied that they were lying.
“Anyone who believes he (Warner) and the Aussies did not say anything of a personal nature must be very naive...”
McMillan also spoke to Sport24 earlier this week when he urged the Proteas to rather focus on their cricket ahead of Friday’s second Test in Port Elizabeth.
“Sometimes it is best to ignore certain players on the field. There will be some sledging again in Port Elizabeth (the second Test, from Friday) but we must try to let our performance there shut their mouths. Beating them usually works, but if it goes the other way again ... well, they’re all over you," McMillan said.
“We simply have to come back at PE: go 2-0 down there and the rest of the series could quickly become a nightmare; careers could be shortened.”
