David Warner says he is happy for his form to draw criticism away from the rest of the Australian team, after a lean run in the shortest format.
The veteran opener has made just 15 runs for the Aussies across two practice matches and the first for points at the T20 World Cup, but believes he is at his best when cornered.
“We obviously need to talk up the World Cup so it’s a great way to do that, targeting me again,” Warner laughed on 1170 SEN Breakfast with Vossy.
“Like the 2019 World Cup. Which I love, because it takes a lot of the pressure off the team.
“For my sake, I think I’m best fighting when I’m up against the wall.
“From my perspective, I always respect where I am with my game. For the last 18 months, there hasn’t been much continuity, due to the pandemic.
“(Just) trying to get back-to-back games, when we’re so used to playing series after series.”
Before linking up with the Australian camp, Warner played just two games in the Indian Premier League when it resumed in the United Arab Emirates, and cobbled together just two runs.
He was left out of the final six games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, having already been stripped of the captaincy before the hiatus.
“It was a tough pill to swallow,” Warner admitted.
“I kind of laughed at the reasoning, that two guys were hitting the ball out of the middle a little bit better than I was. Given that when you’re playing the game you’re playing the scenario…
“Obviously there are a lot of moving parts around there. What you have to do as a professional athlete is take it on the chin do everything you can for the team.
“Not being able to go there, run drinks and be around was when it sort of hit home that it could be personal, and I’m still yet to get those answers.”
He has likely played his final game for the franchise, where he has spent eight seasons and with whom he won the 2016 championship.
“I will put my name in the auction,” Warner confirmed.
“By the signs of the recent IPL, I won’t be retained by the Sunrisers, so I’m looking forward to a fresh start.”
Warner turned 35 on Thursday, and his age has accordingly been bundled up with considerations of his form, but the veteran says his competitive fires burn as fiercely as ever.
“I’ll keep looking to play this game for a long time to come,” he continued.
“I feel if you train hard and stay fit and healthy, the only thing that is going to slow you down is an injury of some sort.
“From my perspective, I’m always raring to go and I’m always up and about.”
Warner hinted at his explosive best in the Australians’ World Cup opener against South Africa, finding the rope three times before he was dismissed for 14 from 15 balls.
The New South Welshman revealed how he prepared for the tournament, with so little match practice and so few runs when he was at the wicket.
“I’ve gone back to polished concrete and synthetic,” he explained.
“It gets my feet dancing again, and gets you used to facing guys that bowl at 140-150 kilometres per hour.
“It’s hard to replicate on slow, low training wickets, you can’t get the ball to bounce that high, so you need to think outside the square.”
Warner offered an Ashes prediction ahead of England’s tour down under this summer, and channeled a former Australian paceman.
“Look, I’m almost a trademark for headlines, aren’t I?” Warner laughed.
“It’s going to be a challenge. Glenn (McGrath) loved a five-nil.
“I’ll say four-nil. There has to be some give with weather around, surely.”
Warner and the Australians will take on Sri Lanka in their second T20 World Cup fixture early on Friday morning (AEDT).