David Warner eyes franchise leagues post-retirement and dismisses political aspirations.
David Warner is currently gearing up for his last bilateral international cricket series against New Zealand, but the veteran Australia opener isn't expecting a warm farewell from the Black Caps fans in Wellington and Auckland.
The 37-year-old opener has already bid adieu to Test and ODI cricket, and he will play T20I cricket until after the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and United States in June.
As Australia is set to face New Zealand at Wellington Stadium in the three-match T20I series opener on February 21, followed by two T20Is at Eden Park in Auckland on February 23 and 25, Warner remains unfazed by any potential hostility from the crowd and won't let any abuse affect his game.
David Warner told reporters: “Over here, it’s always the harsh reality that we’re neighbours, in sport we like to beat each other. 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.”
Describing New Zealand fans as “derogatory and pretty vulgar” after they abused Australians on their tour of New Zealand in 2016, Warner stressed: “I enjoy playing here. It’s about coming out and trying to put my best foot forward, and score runs.”
The senior opener added, “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 wants to extend his career in the franchise leagues globally for "another couple of years." However, the Aussie great clarified that he has no plans of pursuing a career in politics.
He signed off by saying, “Yeah, look, I’ll leave that for another time. I think I’d get absolutely grilled if I was to go into politics.”
(With AFP/AAP Inputs)