SYDNEY – David Warner will play his final bilateral international cricket series against New Zealand this week, but the Australian premiership is not expecting a fond farewell from Black Caps fans in Wellington and Auckland.
The 37-year-old has already retired from Test and one-day cricket but has delayed his farewell to the shortest format of the game until after the World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States in June.
Warner, who will start Australia’s 2020 series opener against New Zealand at Wellington Stadium on Wednesday and the two matches to follow at Eden Park, said he would not let any abuse affect his game.
“The hard reality here is always that we are neighbours, we like to beat each other in sport,” Warner told reporters in the New Zealand capital on Monday.
“From that point of view, we’ll expect the crowd to come at us as hard as they come. As we always say, it’s one ear out the other – if I’m actually hearing anything.”
Warner described local fans as “derogatory and pretty vulgar” after the Australians were the target of abuse during the 2016 Test and ODI tour of New Zealand.
“I enjoy playing here,” added Warner. “It’s about going out and trying to put your best foot forward and score.
“The crowd, yes they are personal but if they are going to be personal it is their character… if you want to pay your money to come and abuse people you need to go back and get into your own bed.
“We’re here to play the game of cricket we love and enjoy and put bums on the seats to keep the game going.”
Warner said he would continue his career in franchise Twenty20 leagues around the world for “the next couple of years”.
Despite also signing up to offer his views on the game through media work, Warner said he is not considering a career in politics.
“Yeah, look, I’ll save that for another time,” he said.
“I think if I went into politics I would be completely grilled.”
