Saturday 4 July 2015 21:30, UK
David Warner has spoken in detail for the first time about the controversial incident which saw him try to punch Joe Root in a bar two years ago.
The Australian opener said the incident was sparked when the Yorkshire batsman took a green and gold fancy dress wig that his friend was wearing.
Warner also claimed he saw England bowler Steven Finn "asleep in the gutter" as he left the bar in Birmingham in June 2013.
Ahead of the start of the Investec Ashes Series which starts on Wednesday, the 28-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald: “A mate of mine was actually wearing it on top of his head like a (Lasith) Malinga wig, that's what it was.
“He was wearing it on his head and (Root) decided to come in and take it off my mate's head and start acting the way he did.
"When people are drunk that's what they do but I thought it was a bit inappropriate the way he went about that stuff so I went over and tried to take it off him.
“And he probably didn't mean anything by it at all but I just thought ... actually I can't say I thought.
“I probably let my aggression and alcohol take over there and probably made an excuse for me to go over there and actually take it off him."
The row came after England's 48-run win over the Aussies in the Champions Trophy at Edgbaston.
Warner apologised for the incident but was suspended by Cricket Australia and missed the first two Tests of that summer's Ashes series, which England won 3-0.
But the batsman feels the incident was blown out of proportion.
He added: "I texted Joe the next morning and everything was fine.
"I think the way it's been blown up I should have asked him to get in the ring for a re-match or something."
Root, however, was unimpressed by Warner's excuses for the attack and made his feelings clear in Twitter posts later on Saturday
"Disappointing to have my character questioned - those who know me realise how ridiculous Warner's excuse for hitting me sounds but that's his choice to try and justify his actions," Root tweeted.
"I'm just extremely excited about next week and getting back out there."
