Patience paying off for Warner
CRICKET: Making a Test century in England is one of David Warner’s final frontiers as a batsman and a week out from putting on his baggy green again the Australian opener says he’s “determined” to make it happen.
A second-innings effort of 58 in Southampton against the strongest opposition he could face – his own teammates – on a wicket he said provided the “the hardest conditions possible” was an entree ahead of the main course in Birmingham next week.
Warner didn’t have to be reminded that through 16 Test innings in England he has a best score off 85, his last effort in the 2015 series.
But the now 32-year-old, who is set to confront more than just the English bowling attack when the Ashes gets underway on August 1, said he couldn’t be more ready to climb that mountain.
Warner credited his time in club cricket last summer – as he served out his playing ban for the ball-tampering scandal – for developing his new found ability to “scrap” for runs.
He said being able to scrap his way to 647 runs, in the World Cup, showed he now had the determination to fight in challenging conditions.
“I think you saw that during the white ball (World Cup) that I hung in there a lot,” he said.
“The old me probably would have thrown the bat at it quite often and today that was all I was focusing on, making sure my feet and my decision making was on point. I was happy with that but I’ve got to try to get those three figures.”