David Warner is coming to dominate international cricket: Aaron Finch

David Warner’s career was at the crossroads following the ball-tampering scandal in the Cape Town Test against South Africa. However, the left-hander has made a grand comeback in the 2019 Indian Premier League, blasting 692 runs at an average of 69 with eight fifties and a century for Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the entire tournament, he was not dismissed in single digits and his opening stand with Jonny Bairstow laid the foundation for the team’s win. With Warner leaving the IPL in order to attend a preparatory camp for the Australian cricket team in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, skipper Aaron Finch had said Warner is determined to do well.

“He's coming back with a huge hunger, not just to perform well for his franchise, but to dominate international cricket again. When you have your dream taken away from you for 12 months, I can imagine there's something inside you that burns really strongly. He's a super player, we know how destructive he can be. I think having time off to spend with his family and get away from the game (was important),” Finch said.

RELATED

Both Warner and Steve Smith were banned from cricket for one year following the ball-tampering scandal. Smith has been banned from leading the country for one year while Warner has been handed a lifetime ban by Cricket Australia. However, Finch has said that he will be seeking the advice of both players during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

“I will be using them as much as I can tactically because they've both captained a lot of cricket and are very good captains on the field. It would be really naive of me not to lean on them." Finch also revealed he feared for his own spot on the team after a recent barren run, although he believed he had now returned to form. In the back of your mind, you're thinking, 'Gee, the World Cup isn't far away, as a captain I could be left out of the squad'," he said.

Australia will open their World Cup campaign on June 4 against Afghanistan at the Bristol County Ground.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Australia has won the ICC Cricket World Cup five times.
• Australia will start off their campaign against Afghanistan.
• David Warner and Steve Smith were banned for a year.