David Warner’s final Test series, which begins with a Test match at the Optus Stadium in Perth against Pakistan, has been the subject of frenzied social media debates long before the first ball has been bowled. Mitchell Johnson’s explosive, and critical, column set the tone, and while many have hit back on Warner’s behalf, the man himself has shown no inclination to be drawn into a battle of words with his one-time teammate. Instead, Warner’s focus seems to be on reinforcing his stellar record in home conditions – he averages 58.39 and has made 19 centuries in 55 Tests on Australian soil. In this freewheeling chat with Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, Warner talks about his comebacks, his leadership philosophy and dealing with pressure. Excerpts:
Boria: If you want a comeback story… you want a story from adversity to triumph. You want a story from someone digging deep and showing resilience and making a comeback and becoming a hero in front of everyone once again, David Warner is your man. So, David, what is the story?
David Warner: It is just about being resilient. I have had a very good upbringing with my parents and grew up in a Housing Commission. So, I had to work from a young age. There are some great stories out there and for me, it is all about embracing the fact that I am going to fail. But how am I going to overcome failure, just to back myself, have a clear mindset and commit a hundred percent to what I can do. So, if you are prepared to fail, you get success. There is no doubt.
Boria: So, you are telling me that you have overcome the fear of failure. Is that true?
Warner: I have been told at the start that I would have never played Test cricket. When I started playing Twenty20 cricket, those things were just in the back of my mind. I was not thinking about Test cricket but still, I started to play Test cricket and am still playing. I still recall when Virender Sehwag said that I will be a better Test cricketer than a T20 Player. So, I do not know how to measure that, but these things, little obstacles you need to keep overcoming. That is life and you have to jump over all obstacles and hurdles. But it is about how you get over. I just fall back on my upbringing because I had to work from a young age. I had to help support Mum and Dad and did everything myself in my way. I trust myself, my instincts and keep backing myself.
Boria: When you know the team is investing in a person, how much does that make a difference?
Warner: It makes a massive difference. You have to support every single player and it does not matter if they are in form or out of runs. It does not matter. I am always going to have that presence and energy about me, but if you give me anything extra to try and, you know, get me going.
Boria: When you came to know that you were the Player of the Tournament in the [T20] World Cup (in 2021), just tell me about that?
Warner: I was taken back because I honestly felt that Adam Zampa should have been the Player of the Tournament. His figures were so consistent throughout the tournament. He totally deserved that. It was great I got it, but as a collective, we played so well in our roles. As a batter, I felt that we finished the last three games and it was great that I got it. But, it was a team effort.
Boria: Talk to me about your philosophy of leadership?
Warner: The most important thing is to know your players. Get to know their background, like their upbringing. You can have players coming from non-privileged backgrounds in India and so, if I let him get involved in all discussions equally, that’s the main aim. We all come from different backgrounds from different parents. So, if we get to know players, for me, that is how leadership can grow. Thus, you can feel everything that they have gone through. I feel like a lot of it is off the field.
Boria: How does David Warner deal with pressure?
Warner: I would be lying if I said that there is as much pressure as an Australian with 26 million people compared to a billion people in India. I think that you just have to back yourself. But, I would love to know how to teach people resilience, teach people how to back themselves. Clear your minds. For me, family time, playing golf – that is my downtime for hours. My mind gets challenged on the golf course because sometimes I play a bad shot, but that is my time as myself to go: ‘alright, now, let’s refocus’. I do not worry about the game; it is just more of me switching off.
Family time is always a great thing because whether or not I am having a good day or a bad day, I am always having a good day because I have got my family with me. When I wake up in the morning, I see my wife smiling, my daughter’s face and smile – it is a good day. That is how I deal with the pressure. When I go out there, I know what I have to do. I know that the balls are coming at me, and I have to try and face it somehow. If you feel that you cannot perform at your best, then do not walk on the field. That is what is difficult about this sport.
Once @davidwarner31 was told he wasn’t going to play test cricket.
He has now played 109 Test matches.
Now on the 14th of December, he will play his 200th test innings and his 110th Test, which marks the start of his farewell series as @CricketAus is set to take on @TheRealPCB… pic.twitter.com/xtRiuIAW63
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) December 11, 2023
Boria: How did you see your comeback? Do you look back yourself and think that my life is almost a Bollywood movie?
Warner: I am extremely grateful to still be here playing the game that I love. At the end of the day, people make mistakes, whether or not they are public. Whether or not they are silent, you know people make mistakes. So, for me, I can look at myself in the mirror and say you have done well to come back from what has happened. We only move in one Direction, that is forward. We can not go backward. So, that is the way I look at everything – move forward, put your best foot forward. Attitude is the one thing that you can control. Keep presenting yourself in a great space, that is the most important thing. Hence, for me, I will always try to continue to be the best person I can every day I wake up, and keep delivering as best I can with what I do.
Boria: A message to your fans?
Warner: Thank you for your continued support. I will always be forever grateful for what you guys do for me. You have all seen that I have handed out jerseys, handed out gloves and bats. So, that is my appreciation. That I can only show by performing on the field, because I cannot reach out to every single person. So, I do read your messages and always try my best to get back to you. Hopefully, I can keep continuing to put a smile on your face. So, thank you very much!
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