Warner publicly apologises to Root over punching incident

Controversial Australian opener David Warner has publicly apologised to England player Joe Root after their late night bar-room altercation, during which he punched Root on the face.

Facing the media in a news conference, the batsman apologised to Root and said that he was sorry that his actions had let down his teammates, the fans and Cricket Australia (CA), the Mirror reports.

According to the report, Warner had earlier been suspended by CA until the first Ashes Test on July 10 and has been fined 7,000 pounds for his part in the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday in a Birmingham bar after Australia's ICC Champions Trophy defeat by England.

Apologising for his actions, Warner said that he admitted that he had struck Root in the face, adding that he is responsible and remorseful for his actions as he has let down his teammates, CA, fans, the support staff and his family.

The report further said that the 'unprovoked physical attack', in the words of the England and Wales Cricket Board, was reportedly triggered by Root wearing a fancy dress wig in Australia's green-and-gold colours as a beard.

Meanwhile, Warner, who pleaded guilty to breaching CA's code of behaviour, revealed that he had been in contact with Root by text message, saying that Root has accepted his apology for which he is grateful, and added that such a circumstance would not be repeated again.

Although Warner admitted he had been drinking before the attack on Root, but he insisted he did not have a problem with alcohol.

Root put his troubles behind him by scoring a fine 68 for England against Sri Lanka on Thursday, the report added.