Joe Root had words of caution for David Warner about a potential “hostile environment” in England if the Australian features in the Ashes next year.

The statement was in reference to Warner briefly walking off the pitch  in an NSW Premier match after he was allegedly sledged by Jason Hughes, the brother of late Phillip Hughes.

In 2013, the Australian was sent home after hitting Root in a bar and is currently serving a ban for his part in the Cape Town ball-tampering debacle. Root warned Warner that he’s not a popular figure in England and must be ready to endure more than just jeers if he makes it to the Ashes or the World Cup next year.

“I’m sure he will have to accustom himself to what might be a slightly hostile environment from the English public,” Root said. “I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone, but time will tell as to what happens.”

Root believed that it’s not appropriate to comment whether Warner did the right thing by walking away but confirmed that the Englishman wouldn’t consider doing it if he found himself in a similar situation

“It is something you don’t see very often,” Root said. “But unless you know exactly what went on out there you can’t say if it was a justified thing or not. You don’t know what was said and you don’t know what was involved and what happened out there.”