Almost four months after the ICC World Cup 2019, Australia opener David Warner has revealed the 'father figure' role batting legend Ricky Ponting played for him during the quadrennial event in UK.

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Making his return to international cricket after serving the ball-tampering ban, Warner took the World Cup by storm. The southpaw was the second highest run-getter in the competition with 647 runs to his name, including three centuries and as many fifties.

 "It was fantastic having Ricky there, he was like my old man," Warner told cricket.com.au on Saturday (November 23).

"He was always checking in and I think we had breakfast, lunch and dinner together, amongst the golf trips we had.

"You look at his achievements as a cricketer – most successful captain, most successful (Australian) batsman – his knowledge of the game is ridiculous, so why wouldn't I hang out with a great like him and try to absorb all the knowledge he's got?

"He helped me a lot through (the World Cup). It was a tough period for me coming back into the Australian colours and getting back in the groove of playing cricket again, especially in England.

"I tried to be a sponge off him and it worked a treat.

"I keep in touch with him all the time, as much as I can."

After the success of World Cup, Warner hit the rock bottom in the Ashes 2019 as he amassed only 95 runs at an abysmal average of 9.50 with pacer Stuart Broad proving to be his biggest nemesis.

However, the left-hander returned to form in the first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan at Gabba. Warner hit 154 to lead the foundation for Australia’s mammoth first innings total of 580 in reply to Pakistan’s 240.