Exiled Warner's brother launches bizarre Twitter salvo against Australian team and selectors after batting debacle at Lord's



As Australia's batting line-up was decimated by England's attack at Lord's, there would have been more than a few hoping the exiled David Warner will ride to the rescue.

But it seems the shamed batsman, sent to play with Australia's A team in Zimbabwe after punching England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar, is just as out of touch.

Warner registered paltry scores of six and 11 as he struggled for form against a Zimbabwe Select XI in Harare - but that, it seems, is good enough for his brother.



In a bizarre rant on Twitter, Steven Warner slammed the Australian selectors, opener Shane Watson and the team's inability to use DRS correctly.

Rant: Steven Warner, brother of shamed Australian cricketer David, took to Twitter to criticise the team's selectors and opener Shane Watson following a calamitous first innings at Lord's in the second Ashes Test

Odd man out: Steven Warner called for his brother David (pictured) to be restored to the Australia line-up. He was suspended after punching England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar before the Ashes series

On Friday, shortly after Watson had needlessly wasted a review in Australia's first innings, Warner wrote: 'F***ing selfish Watson sooner your [sic] out the side you great pretender the better.'

And after the Aussies had been skittled for just 128 - their lowest total at Lord's since 1968 - Steven posted: 'Ok @CricketAus I hope u have a business class seat booked from SA to London because its about time u had a batsmen there who will have a go.'

Earlier in the week, Steven, the elder of the brothers and once a promising cricketer himself, also waded into the debate over Mickey Arthur, who has disclosed details of internal rifts in the Australia camp after being sacked just 16 days before the start of the Ashes and is now preparing legal action against Cricket Australia.

Defence: Steven Warner leapt in to support sacked Aussie coach Mickey Arthur on his Twitter profile (below)

He wrote: 'Good on Mickey Arthur finally letting the truth be known and proving he was just an escape goat [sic] #awesomebloke #Gentlemen.'

As a promising young batsman, Steven played for the New South Wales under 17 representative squad, even touring England in 1996, but walked away from the game.

The 33-year-old was a plumber by trade but now works as a Virgin Australia baggage handler.

David has previously gone on record to say his brother leaving the game was an inspiration to keep working hard to advance his own career.



Back in the game? There have been increasingly vocal calls for Warner, seen here as 12th man at Trent Bridge in the first Test, to be recalled after England's bowlers, notably Graeme Swann (below), ripped through them at Lord's

There is a chance David could be restored to the Ashes squad for the third test at Old Trafford, which starts on August 1.

If this is the case, he has further opportunities to find form when Australia A play a second string South African XI in Pretoria between July 24-27, or he could return to England for the tour match with Sussex at Hove from July 26-28.

