Australian opener David Warner has relished making his doubters “look stupid” throughout the ongoing World Cup, hitting back at his critics after another stellar performance in India.
Warner, who celebrated his 37th birthday last week, is currently Australia’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 413 runs at 68.83, including centuries against Pakistan and the Netherlands.
The powerful left-hander fell agonisingly short of becoming the first Australian to score three consecutive ODI hundreds on Saturday, cracking a rapid 81 against New Zealand in Dharamshala.
No Australian has scored more World Cup hundreds than Warner, while the legendary Ricky Ponting is the only Australian with more runs in the marquee tournament.
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The New South Welshman’s spot in the Test side has come under heavy scrutiny over the last 12 months, but his one-day credentials have never been in doubt, named ODI Player of the Year at January’s Australian Cricket Awards.
However, when asked whether he drew inspiration from the relentless criticism, Warner responded: “Nup. I just make everyone look stupid.”
“Everyone keeps writing me off,” Warner continued.
“At the end of the day, I’m doing as well as I can, I’m just trying to go out there and start as well as I can upfront.
“It’s also awesome to have (Travis) Head and Mitch (Marsh) there as well, because it allows that pressure to keep being put back onto the opposition.
Most runs in 2023 Cricket World Cup
431 — Quinton de Kock (RSA)
413 — David Warner (AUS)
406 — Rachin Ravindra (NZ)
398 — Rohit Sharma (IND)
356 — Aiden Markram (RSA)
Warner’s attention shifts to the upcoming clash against England, with Australia preparing to face their Ashes foes at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday.
The Australians have an opportunity to officially knock England out of the World Cup this weekend, but Warner is wary of the threat Jos Buttler’s men pose.
“They’re the teams that are the most dangerous when there’s nothing to lose,” Warner explained.
“They’ve got some very, very (high) quality players and we have to respect it. They bat to 11 and their bowling unit is very good.”
Warner also confessed the timing of Australia’s upcoming bilateral T20 series against India, scheduled to get underway a few days after the World Cup, was “not ideal”.
The five-match series in India, which goes from November 23 to December 3, means that multi-format players Warner and Steve Smith won’t have an opportunity to play first-class cricket before the first Test against Pakistan in Perth on December 14.
“We’ve got obviously no time to go home if we make the final,” Warner said.
“It‘s not ideal that series is on.
“It is what it is, it’s in the calendar, we have to play.”
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green have been rested for the T20 matches.
Australia is currently fourth on the World Cup standings, needing to win two of their remaining three group stage matches to ensure semi-final qualification — barring a drastic net run rate overhaul.