As he embarks on a final tour of New Zealand, David Warner is not expecting to receive the warmest of farewells from the Kiwis based on past visits to the country.
The veteran set the scene for the three match T20 series beginning on Wednesday in Auckland by describing the abuse he and the Australians received during their last visit to New Zealand in 2016 as “derogatory” and “vulgar”.
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“The crowd, yeah, they got personal, but if they have to get personal, that’s their character. I just go about my business,” Warner said on Monday.
“But that’s upon each individual. If that’s what they feel like they have to do, then so be it. If you want to pay your money to come and abuse people, you have to go back and lay in your own bed.
“We’re here to play the game of cricket that we love, enjoy and put bums on seats to keep the game going.”
But the 37-year-old, who retired from Test and one-day cricket last month, understands why the Australians receive such a vocal reception in New Zealand and said that he wished his nation played more regularly in the Shaky Isles.
“It’s always the harsh reality that we’re neighbours. In sport, we like to beat each other,” he said.
“The schedule has always been a hot topic, but I think definitely, with our rivalry and being close neighbours, it does fit.”
The three-match series, which precedes the two Tests against New Zealand beginning on February 29, is Australia’s final outing in the format before the T20 World Cup in June in the United States and West Indies.
The Australians, which swept the West Indies in the recent T20 series, are finetuning their squad and preferred batting order ahead of the World Cup.
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There are queries associated with who will open the batting alongside Warner in the format, with ODI World Cup hero Travis Head considered the most likely to do so.
Steve Smith’s place in the batting order, and indeed, the Australian squad are among questions for selectors to consider as the nation seeks a rare feat in cricket.
The Australians claimed the World Test Championship and also ODI World Cup in 2023 to put the nation within reach of being the champion team in all three formats, which is a clear goal as they build towards the T20 World Cup midway through 2024.
“If you do happen to hold all three, I think that would be fantastic,” Warner said.
“I think you (would) become a very, very proud nation sporting nation and we hold ourselves with that pride, being Australian, that we represent everyone in Australia, so for us to (do that would) be great. It’d be very, very fitting for this for this group.”
Warner, who retired from Test cricket at the SCG in January after Australia completed a 3-0 series victory over Pakistan, believes the tourists are doing a lot of things well.
“We’ve got a great balance here at the moment is all three formats,” he said.
“I think the coaching structure, the leadership structure allows us to express ourselves how we want and I feel like the last 18 to 24 months has showcased that build up into where we are today.
“It’s not just our men. It is the women as well. I think we’re just doing a lot of things right and everyone talks about Australian winning titles. I think when you’ve got that experience in those moments, as well, the big-time series, the big-time moments, it really shows.”
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