Australia batsman David Warner has admitted that he deserved to be dropped for punching England's Joe Root in a bar in the build-up to the Ashes.

Warner hit 193 runs for Australia 'A' in South Africa and said that the time at the crease would do him good for a potential return to the full setup.

"Sitting on the sidelines and copping that punishment and not being selected, it was a thing that I needed. I definitely needed a kick up the bum," he told reporters. "It was my own fault the incident that happened.

"I set myself a goal of wanting to bat three hours out there. I batted an hour in Zimbabwe and I decided here I'd just come in and be positive from the start and when the ball was there to hit, I hit it. That's how I played today and it came off.

"I hadn't really played for about 40 days so with no cricket under my belt I was fortunate enough to be sent here and get some game time in."

Australia are currently 2-0 down in the Ashes series.