The South African camp, however, suggested that Warner had also directed personal abuse towards de Kock about his mother and sister on the field, as well as berating him over his appearance, allegedly saying he had a "face like a bushpig". South Africa's team manager, Mohammed Moosajee, said Warner had "definitely" got personal. Warner's wife and his two young children are on tour with him in South Africa. The incident was discussed between the two team managers after play on Sunday night with match referee Jeff Crowe, who was on Monday still deciding whether to take action against players. The South Africans did not deny that de Kock had made personal barbs towards Warner.

“I think from both parties, from what I’ve heard, there was a lot of personal stuff being said," said South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis, who had also exchanged words with Warner after hearing the commotion outside the dressing room and emerging in a towel. "That’s obviously what made it go off the field. If you ... that’s us included ... if you want to go personal then it needs to stay on the field. "Who started it I don't know. If it was happening on the field it probably should have been nipped in the bud on the field already. The fact that it spilled over off the field, that shouldn't have happened." Smith had dragged Warner away after teammate Usman Khawaja had held the vice-captain back from de Kock at the top of the staircase.

He admitted things had gone too far. "I think it's just about playing within the spirit of the game," Smith said. "We're men playing a competitive sport and at times emotions get the better of players - that's part of playing competitive sport and being in the grind. "But at times we need to pull things back and ensure we are playing within the spirit of the game. Loading "What was said and done during that interval was regrettable on both sides. Obviously Quinton got quite personal and provoked an emotional response from Davey. I think those things are not on from both sides. Getting personal on the field is not on, that's crossing the line in my opinion."

The blow-up with de Kock came during a tense fourth day of the match in which Warner had delivered an emotion-charged spray towards South African's Aiden Markram when the opener played a part in the run out of a diving AB de Villiers without scoring. Tirade: David Warner is mobbed by teammates after the run out of AB de Villiers for a duck. Nathan Lyon was on Monday hit with a level-one charge over his part in the celebration after apologising for dropping the ball near de Villiers on the ground. Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who is commentating in the series, agreed with his compatriots that Warner was not without blame for the later blow-up. "Warner crossed many personal boundaries with the South Africans, so we can’t be surprised when there is eventually a reaction," Smith tweeted. "If players are happy to give it, they have to be prepared to take it too."