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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Warner expecting cold farewell from crowds in NZ

Warner expecting cold farewell from crowds in NZ

Last updated on: February 19, 2024 14:46 IST
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David Warner, who will open for Australia in Wednesday's Twenty20 series opener against New Zealand at Wellington Stadium and the two matches that follow at Eden Park, said he would not let any abuse affect his game

IMAGE: David Warner, who will open for Australia in Wednesday's Twenty20 series opener against New Zealand at Wellington Stadium and the two matches that follow at Eden Park, said he would not let any abuse affect his game. Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

David Warner will play his final bilateral international cricket series against New Zealand this week but the Australia opener is not expecting an affectionate farewell from Black Caps fans in Wellington and Auckland.

 

The 37-year-old has already retired from test and one-day cricket but has delayed his farewell from the shortest format of the game until after the World Cup in the Caribbean and United States in June.

Warner, who will open for Australia in Wednesday's Twenty20 series opener against New Zealand at Wellington Stadium and the two matches that follow at Eden Park, said he would not let any abuse affect his game.

"Over here, it's always the harsh reality that we're neighbours, in sport we like to beat each other," Warner told reporters in the New Zealand capital on Monday.

"From that perspective, we're going to be expecting the crowd to come at us as hard as they come. As we always say, it's in one ear, out the other -- if I actually hear anything."

Warner described local fans as "derogatory and pretty vulgar" after the Australians were targeted for abuse during a test and ODI tour of New Zealand in 2016.

"I enjoy playing here," Warner added.

"It's about coming out and trying to put my best foot forward, and score runs.

"The crowd, yeah, they got personal, but if they have to get personal, that’s their character ... 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."

Warner said he was going to continue his career in Twenty20 franchise leagues around the world for "another couple of years" .

Despite having also signed up to offer his opinions on the game through media work, Warner said he was not considering a career in politics.

"Yeah, look, I'll leave that for another time," he said.

"I think I'd get absolutely grilled if I was to go into politics."

Spencer Johnson added to Australia's squad

With the likes of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Hardie ruled out of the series, Australia was forced to make a change to their squad ahead of their away T20I series with New Zealand.

Fast bowler Spencer Johnson has been added to the squad late ahead of the first match on Wednesday.

Adam Zampa should be eligible for the series despite a logistical delay in arriving in New Zealand, while Matthew Wade will join the squad in Auckland for games two and three.

Stoinis hurt his back during the recently finished T20I series against the West Indies, while Hardie was unable to compete for a position in the 2017 T20 World Cup team due to a calf ailment.

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy honours Australian cricketers Ian, Greg, and Trevor Chappell, as well as the New Zealand cricket dynasty of Walter Hadlee and his sons Barry, Dayle, and Sir Richard.

The teams will fight for the prize in both white-ball formats, with the Chappell and Hadlee families' support and given the significance of the series, which coincides with the T20 World Cup in June.

Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner and Adam Zampa.

New Zealand T20 Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Will Young.

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Source: REUTERS
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