Vaughan slams 'screw loose' Warner as 'disgrace to Oz' over Root-punching controversy

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has branded controversial Australian opener David Warner as a disgrace to his nation for punching England batsman Joe Root, adding that he must have a 'screw loose'.

Lord's authorities had claimed that Root, allegedly clowning around with a fancy-dress wig, was punched by Warner in 'an unprovoked physical attack' in Birmingham's Australian-themed Walkabout bar in the early hours of Sunday, the Mirror reports.

However, the report added, Root has refused to press charges over a bust-up which casts a large shadow over next month's Ashes.

Slamming Warner, Vaughan, now a BBC Test Match Special pundit, said that the opener has tarnished the whole Australian cricket team, adding that the entire network, structure, captain, management and supporters are all tarred with the same brush because of one individual.

Refusing to blame the Australian team management, Vaughan said that the management is helpless if one of their players attacks an opposing player late in the night, adding that it is the responsibility of that player, instead of the coach or the captain, to assess his behaviour.

According to the report, Warner was axed and forced to carry the drinks at Wednesday's abandoned Champions Trophy tie with New Zealand at Edgbaston in the latest blow to Australia's fading credibility as a cricket superpower.

Warner, fined 3,700 pounds for sending abusive, expletive-riddled tweets to Australian cricket journalists only last month, is waiting to find out if he will be sent home by a disciplinary commission investigating the incident, the report added.