Image courtesy of: The Telegraph
Warner conceded that Australia made the right move by dropping him
Australia opening batsman David Warner had finally admitted that he “definitely needed a kick up the bum” after getting suspended till the start of the ongoing Ashes series for punching England’s Joe Root at the Walkabout bar in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy.
Warner’s bar brawl antics cost him his place for the first two Ashes Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, but he is back in contention for the third Test at Old Trafford after smashing 193 against South Africa A in Pretoria.
Warner was shipped off to South Africa with the rest of the Australia A squad as it was the only way for him to gain some much-needed match practice.
The 26-year-old’s fists of fury cost him his spot in the Test side after having represented Australia in 19 consecutive Tests and was also responsible for getting head coach Mickey Arthur fired.
“Sitting on the sidelines and copping that punishment and not being selected it was a thing that I needed,” Warner said. “I definitely needed a kick up the bum. It was my own fault the incident that happened. My job was then to support our players, support the rest of the group and do everything I could to help them prepare for the games. I did that and I know the other guys on the tour did the same thing. We’ve all been working very hard.”
If Warner does get selected, he will no longer be opening with Ed Cowan as the 31-year-old was dropped after the first Test, and he will also come in at number six.
Warner’s 193 is not his highest first-class score, but it was his longest stay at the crease, which shows that he is learning to be more patient.
“I set myself a goal of wanting to bat three hours out there,” Warner said. “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 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. I know I would have had to wait until after the first two Tests to get any game time over there otherwise.”
Warner also reiterated his support for all-rounder Shane Watson after his brother, Steven, launched a Twitter tirade against Watson during the second Test.
“A hundred percent. I get along with Shane very well,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy batting with Shane, I know what he does for the team and I know what a team player he is, not just on the field but in and around the group how he supports the guys. He’s fantastic.”