A reflective David Warner says he’s humbled by winning his third Allan Border Medal despite conceding he had a “pathetic” Ashes series.
The much-maligned batsman took out Australian cricket’s highest individual honour on Monday night, winning the award by one vote ahead of second-placed Steve Smith.
Warner averaged just 9.5 runs during the five Ashes Tests last year but bounced back strongly at home during Australia’s clean sweep against Pakistan and New Zealand.
He didn’t shy away from his horror tour of England, admitting the award took him by surprise.
“I was surprised (to win) given the pathetic Ashes series I had,” Warner told SEN Breakfast.
“It’s just one of those things where it’s a peer-voted award and obviously the guys did something over there but obviously I didn’t.
“It’s just great to be voted in by your peers and it’s a special award but for me the most important thing is how we’ve been playing our cricket in the last 12 months.
“The team is gelling well across all three formats, we’ve got a great base for the next few years.”
Despite enduring a tough Ashes series, Warner chose to focus on improving as a fielder when the runs weren’t flowing.
“It wasn’t hard to keep a smile on my face because I’m representing my country doing what I love in an Ashes series,” he said.
“I was always up and about regardless of how I was going with the bat and at the end of the day, I had to contribute in the field. It might sound stupid but I took some catches which is always going to happen in England – it was my first time in the slips and I was just hoping not to drop any.
“I dropped a couple though and (Ben Stokes) went on to get a hundred every time I did … but you’ve got contribute somehow and 50 per cent of the game is fielding and I pride myself on that.
“I had to keep lifting my spirits and my energy to keep the energy flowing through the (playing group).”
Listen to David Warner's chat on SEN Breakfast in the player below