The Pakistan series proves that I have evolved as a cricketer: David Warner

He is the X factor in the current Australian squad. And with Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting picking him as the would-be star of World Cup 2015, David Warner has come a long way since ‘Punchgate’ (when he punched England player Joe Root) at a Birmingham pub in 2013. Having just played a part in Australia’s resounding series win against South Africa and while enjoying a rare few days at home with his 2-month-old daughter, Warner spoke his mind on the forthcoming India series and the World Cup. Excerpts from a conversation with Boria Majumdar:
India’s tour to Australia is finally upon us. Your first thoughts.

Playing against the Indians is always a challenge and also a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We have just beaten South Africa and that should be a signal to every cricket team in the world that we are getting ready for the World Cup at home and we will do our best in a few months from now. We are playing excellent cricket at the moment and against the Indians we will look to carry forward this momentum that we have now built.

You use the word ‘challenge’. What is it going to be like for you personally?

I am very excited at the prospect of playing the Indians on Australian soil. The UAE experience against Pakistan is proof I have evolved as a cricketer. It is important I continue to dig deep and make the most of every opportunity. If you get in as an opener you have to make it count. That is what I’d say is the difference compared to two years earlier. Now I try and make it count and carry on for a big score each time I get in. Earlier I’d throw my wicket away after I had done the hard work. I want to continue digging deep against the Indians and score as many runs as I can for the team.

Australia is synonymous with fast pitches, good bounce and chin music. What will it be like this time round when the Indians take field at the Gabba?'

It won’t be any different. The pitches will have bounce and carry. At the same time if you get in, there will be very good value for shots. You can score quickly on Australian pitches if you are on top and that’s what we need to stop the Indians from doing. This Indian team has a number of very good players and some of them are in very good form coming into the series. We need to ensure we don’t allow them to get on top and bowl consistently in the fifth or sixth stump forcing the nick. We need to build pressure and win sessions from the start of the series. If we are able to do that we can surely dominate.

India v Australia is a marquee cricket contest. How much excitement is there this time round given that India’s away record is poor to say the least. Are you expecting big crowds at the Tests, something that we continue to miss in India?

Make no mistake, you will have big crowds coming out to support the games. MCG will have the biggest crowd on Boxing Day, but all of the other Test matches will also have fans coming out in numbers. Brisbane has always had good crowds and I expect the Adelaide Oval to be full. Sydney is a special Test match and the support India receives in every part of the world will ensure this is a very wellsupported series.

Given India’s poor away record do you think the Indians have any chance of standing up to the likes of Mitchell Johnson who is bowling at his very best?

Look, it will be hard. But there are some good players in the Indian team. Some of them have done reasonably well in Australia in the past and I expect them to be competitive. We will definitely come hard at them but that’s what Test cricket is all about. It is now up to them to counter the challenge.

Finally, a thought on the World Cup. It is easily the biggest thing this season. How do you see Australia faring in comparison to some of the other teams?

There’s no doubt the World Cup is huge. And with the cup at home, we surely have a very good chance. As I said at the start of this conversation, the fact that we beat a very good South African side convincingly proves we are fully geared up for the task. If we continue to improve and keep working hard, there’s no reason why we can’t do well in the World Cup.