Warner reflects on Root cause of success

On the fourth anniversary of the infamous Walkabout incident involving England's Joe Root, David Warner has returned to the same city to play in the same tournament but as a completely different man.

And he's looking to land a far more meaningful blow on the field this weekend in order to keep Australia's Champions Trophy campaign alive.

The contrast between the young brash opener who took a swing at the English star in the Birmingham nightspot four years ago and the relaxed family man Warner has become could not be more in focus heading into Saturday's clash against England at Edgbaston.

Quick Single: Warner hits out at timing of MOU video

Australia's team hotel is mere metres from the Walkabout pub, where Warner's career went off the rails during the Champions Trophy here in 2013.

But the modern Warner has far better things to do with his time than to sink pints between training and games.

He's now completely devoted to his wife Candice and two young daughters, none of whom were in his life four years ago, but who have all played a major role in turning his career around.

"It was a learning curve for myself," Warner reflected today. "I was young and I'm now old. I've got two kids and I'm married. There's been a lot of settling down."

When asked if the Root incident was the defining moment of his life and his career, Warner was unequivocal.

"For getting my career back on track, definitely," he said. "And for becoming the person I am today and not just the cricketer, definitely.

"We all go through periods where we're young and naive to what can be out there.

Image Id: 515F069F1317484D9CBCA768A7BA9B2E Image Caption: Warner, facing the press after being suspended for the Root altercation, in 2013 // Getty

"And it's not about just stuffing up and moving on. It's about learning the ropes of being away on tour for such a long period of time, things at home could be different.

"There's little things there that you have to think about as a youngster 'what can I do?'.

"I probably didn't work that out at that stage, but now I have and I've got a great balance on and off the field.

"I didn't really think what would have come of the situation. People didn't look too far or deep into it to see who was in the right or wrong.

"And that's forgotten, that's all gone, it's in the past and we can tell a happily ever after story at the end of my career."

Warner's life transformation in the past four years has been stark, but so too has his performance on the field.

Fresh off a tournament-leading 641 runs in the Indian Premier League, Warner reached 4000 career ODI runs in the match against Bangladesh on Monday, becoming the fastest Australian to do so. Worldwide, only Hashim Amla and Viv Richards have done it faster.

Quick Single: Warner breaks 27-year-old Australian record

He moved from 3000 runs to 4000 in just eight months, the space of just 12 innings, and has scored more than 1800 runs at an average of 65 since the start of 2016.

While he struggled against the red ball in India, he's in the best white-ball form of his career.

"You could probably say that because I haven't done that before," he says.

"It can be frustrating because you always wonder why you can go so well in white-ball cricket or you have a bit of a lull, and vice versa.

"So I'm just going to keep riding this roller-coaster of a bit of form and try and do the best thing I can for the team, which is score runs at the top of the order.

"I think when you have things going right for you on and off the field, you are in a great clear mind and a happy place.

"We're playing great cricket as an Australian team and they're a great bunch of guys we're playing with and you have a lot of fun on and off the field.

"It just shows what you can do on the field if you have a clear mind and you are enjoying the environment you're in."

If Birmingham's weather allows – and there's a good chance it won't – Warner will be looking to continue that form in Australia's must-win clash against Root and England on Saturday.

The equation for the Aussies is simple; victory will see them through to the semi-finals, a loss would likely send them home.

And Warner joked he'd even be open to a return to the Walkabout for some celebratory drinks. Soft drinks, of course.

"If they give me a couple of free drinks, some Diet Cokes, and the rest of the boys they can shout them a table," he said with a laugh.

And Root?

"If I see him, I'll give him a handshake," he added with another smile.

Image Id: EDA59CA2DFF9476882F6DB4C497BCB70 Image Caption: Warner fields as Root bats during the 2015 Ashes // Getty

The transformation from The Bull to The Reverend is almost complete.

But with 'Brev' tagged on his Australian training cap – an apparent amalgamation of his two nicknames – the old Bull still pops his head up from time to time.

"He can, here and there," Warner says. "Just depends on what day you get me.

"Most of the time, I'm probably The Reverend, as they say.

"But look, it's about coming out and winning games for Australia and being the best person I can around the team and around people outside cricket."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation

Schedule

1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India beat Pakistan by 124 runs

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, No Result

6 June – England beat New Zealand by 87 runs

7 June – Pakistan beat South Africa by 19 runs (DLS method)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)