David Warner has defended his “speak English” demand in a slanging match with Indian batsman Rohit Sharma but admits he was mistaken over the incident that sparked it.

Warner was fined 50 per cent of his match fee over the incident by the ICC.

Tempers flared during Australia’s four-wicket Tri-Series ODI win at the MCG on Sunday when Warner demanded Sharma speak English instead of his native Hindi.

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The incident was sparked after India ran a contentious single off an overthrow the Australians believed came after Warner’s return deflected off Sharma.

Cricket etiquette dictates that batsmen do not run when a throw deflects off their body or bat.

“When I went over to say something to him, he sort of said something in their language and I said ‘speak English’ because, if you’re going to say something, understand that theoretically I cannot speak Hindi,” Warner said on Monday.

“I did the polite thing and asked him to speak English, therefore he did and I can’t repeat what he said.”

A replay supported India’s position that it wasn’t a deflection and, while 28-year-old Warner admitted he made a wrong call, he said he wouldn’t seek out Sharma to apologise.

“I was in the wrong … I shouldn’t have engaged him,” Warner told Sky Sports Radio.

“If people get on the wrong side of me, I’m not going to back down.

“We’re always there to play hard aggressive cricket, but you know what comes with that – sometimes you are going to get fined.

“We’ve just got to keep trying not to cross that line, because we’re all about playing cricket the right way.”

Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe has come out swinging over the incident, describing Warner as “the most juvenile cricketer I have seen” and calling for a red card system.

Writing for cicinfo.com, Crowe repeated earlier warnings from Ian Chappell that on-field behaviour had deteriorated to the point that punches could be thrown.

“And if it is him who gets hammered, it will be overdue – if wrong,” Crowe wrote of Warner.

“Fining these serial offenders is not going to work. You have to take them out of the game for extended periods.

“Two yellow cards should result in a red card, which should ban any player for six months. This is the only way it will be dealt with. My concern in the immediate future will be that Warner will be in the centre of an ugly on-field fight during the upcoming World Cup.

“Warner can play, but he is the most juvenile cricketer I have seen on a cricket field. I don’t care how good he is: if he continues to show all those watching that he doesn’t care, he must be removed, either by Cricket Australia or definitely by the world governing body.

“The more he gets away with it, the more others will follow his pitiful actions. Already we see one or two of his team-mates enjoying being close to his hideous energy.”

“What must the talk be in the opposition dressing rooms about how to combat this daily occurrence? Do you stand up for yourself when confronted with Warner’s spit and expletives or do you turn a blind eye? I dread to think, and it shouldn’t be a choice. The officials must step in now.”

Australia remain undefeated in the Tri-Series and will face England on Friday in Hobart.