Taunton: David Warner had feared not scoring a hundred in international cricket following his ball-tampering ban but the Australian opener dispelled those fears by making a match-winning 107 against Pakistan in the World Cup here.
The dangerous opener has made a successful comeback alongside Steve Smith after serving a one-year ban for ball-tampering.
Warner revealed his innings, which proved the foundation of Australia’s 41-run win Wednesday, filled him with both joy and relief after wondering whether he would ever get the chance to enjoy a similar moment ever again.
“Yes, definitely, there was always that going through my mind,” nodded the left-hander when asked about the possibility that his hundred in the Boxing Day Test against England in December 2017 might have been his last in the baggy green.
“That’s what drove me to keep being as fit as I can, to keep scoring as many runs as I can in the Twenty 20 tournaments I played in, and really enjoy playing in grade cricket. I think going through these tough times and regrouping put myself in the best way to come back into international cricket,” he said.
Warner had stayed away from the spotlight during his time away but opened up after this triumphant performance while paying tribute to his wife Candice who was his ‘rock’ in tough times.
“I was always coming back to international cricket if selected. The thing that kept me going was my wife and two young kids. I got great support at home from the family. My wife at home, she’s been my rock – she’s unbelievable, disciplined, selfless,” he added. “I hold a lot of credit to her, she’s a strong woman. She got me out of bed a lot in those first 12 weeks and got me back running and training as hard as I could. Just to maintain my level of fitness and hard work, she nailed that into me.”
Warner, now the second highest scorer in the tournament with 255 runs, quickened his scoring rate at Taunton after his slowest-ever ODI fifties in previous knocks against Afghanistan and India.
“Against Afghanistan, I felt like I had no rhythm; the next game (versus the West Indies), I got one that kicked off the wicket but I was a bit lazy,” he said. “In the last game (against India), I didn’t play the way I know I can play. So it was a bit of relief in a way (to get the hundred). Against India, I hit a lot of fielders and you feel like you’ve got no rhythm.”
“Today was one of those wickets when you’re still looking to score while keeping it tight – we had to try to adapt to those conditions,” added Warner.
However, the perfectionist in Warner was annoyed that he got out so soon after reaching his 15th ODI ton.
“I still feel I left a lot out there, with 70 balls to go. And with the way we were trying to build partnerships again, I hold myself responsible for the way we fell apart there,” he said.
Australia had looked like crossing 350 at one stage before ending at 307.
PTI
