A refreshed David Warner is feeling the difference after ending his long-running feud with Cricket Australia over his controversial leadership ban.
The veteran opener returned to form in stunning fashion in Australia’s Boxing Day Test smashing of South Africa, earning player-of-the-match honours for his heroic 200.
After entering the final Test of the year averaging a dismal 20.61 in 2022, Warner saved his red-ball career with arguably the finest of his 25 centuries in the format.
The 36-year-old has had a tumultuous summer, after withdrawing his bid to overturn his lifetime captaincy ban on the eve of the Adelaide Test against the West Indies.
Warner has fired numerous shots at CA over the process, accusing the independent panel handling the leadership review of seeking to conduct a “public lynching”.
But dropping the leadership appeal and focusing on cricket and family life again has helped him rediscover his best form.
“I still haven’t sat down with (CA boss) Nick (Hockley) to talk about it after what has happened, that can happen in due course, but I’m in the right frame of mind now,” Warner said.
“…waking up, a lawyer texts you about something that has to be spoken about.
“These are things that you don’t want on your mind when you’re going to training or going to the game.
“So for me it was just trying to get in right frame frame of mind and I just couldn’t do it, it was difficult.
“That’s all parked now, don’t have to worry about that, I’m not even thinking about it.”
Warner has hinted about retiring from Tests in the near future but is “100 per cent” committed to touring India and England next year.
“The extra motivation for me is winning in India and completely winning a series in England,” he said.
“I’ve been told by the coach (Andrew McDonald) and the selectors that they’d like me to be there.
“Obviously there was a lot of stuff before this series going through my mind…of course there were doubts, but for me, it was about going out there and knowing that I’ve still got that hunger and determination.”
Warner dealt with heat stress and full-body cramps to become just the second player, after England star Joe Root, to score a double-century in their 100th Test.
He was assisted off the MCG by medical staff immediately after reaching 200, with the oppressive conditions on Tuesday taking their toll.
“It was a horrible feeling,” he said.
“I’ve never experienced those kinds of cramps before, and if you could have had a camera in the change room for the next hour after I was off, it was comical.”
