David Warner and Matthew Wade in 'unsavoury' physical clash in BBL

David Warner and Matthew Wade have moved to downplay a physical altercation that took place in the BBL on Sunday after Warner pushed Wade during an on-field conversation. The former Test teammates clashed physically during a tense exchange late in the Hobart Hurricanes' innings at Blundstone Arena.

The Hurricanes chased down the Thunder's total of 135 with 23 balls to spare and five wickets in hand to leapfrog the Sydney side into fifth spot on the ladder. However the talk of the cricket world in the aftermath of the match has been Warner's shove.

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Playing just his second game for the Thunder this season, Warner was seen pushing Wade following a chat between the former Test wicketkeeper and Sydney captain Chris Green. Kerry O'Keeffe said in commentary for Fox Sports: "That was inappropriate. I don’t know what went on between them there. Was it jocular?

“They’ve been long-term teammates for Australia. Their history goes back a long way as buddies.

“It was unsavoury, you can’t have contact like that. Whether they were half-joking, I don’t know. The body language suggested not, there was an issue out there.”

Warner later said during an on-field interview with Channel 7: “I’m picking my battle - he is smaller, I will take him on. Actually, I don’t know, honestly I don’t know. It was something between these two (Green and Wade), I don’t know if it’s history or not. But honestly I’ve got no idea what it was.

“I don’t know what that last ball was, I’m not sure if Wadey said something or Greeny said something. I can’t work it out. Just trying to settle him down. He’s just like a little barking dog.

“I was trying to be the peacekeeper there for once. They kept going. I don’t know one was saying ‘you stay out of it, it’s not your business.’ The other was saying ‘I can say what I want’. If there’s been a stoush before I know Wadey is not going to back down.”

Wade and Green both later indicated that they held no animosity towards each other. Green said: "There was nothing untoward about it. We're both passionate and competitive on the field and trying to gain a win for our teams. There was nothing personal said.

"We were both playing with a lot of emotion, trying to lead our respective teams. We had a chat after the game. We move forward. If we end up playing (again) I'm sure we'll be as competitive as ever. If it happens again, great. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I walk away with no ill feeling."

Wade said: "I couldn't hit him, that was more my main frustration."

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Tim David, who was batting alongside Wade at the time, said Green had been winding Wade up about a potential run out. David said: “They were suggesting I was going to get run out again. I was just out there trying to defuse it. They were just going at each other a little bit. It was pretty friendly to be honest.

“Everyone plays against each other so much so if it got a little bit further than that there’s no point. Wadey bit back. It wasn't a great deal more than that."

The Hurricanes ended up getting the last laugh as David finished 76 not out off 41 balls - his highest score in the BBL - and smacked the winning runs. Nathan Ellis earlier picked up career-best figures of 4-27, including a hat-trick.

Ellis, who was named player of the match, became just the second Hurricanes player to take a hat-trick after spinner Xavier Doherty in 2012. However he didn't initially realise because it came across a span of 11 overs.

with AAP

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