Relaxed Warner marching to a different beat

"I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me."

David Warner has had plenty of noise to tune out in recent weeks, yet the abuse he's copped at cricket grounds around England is not what he's wanted to mute.

It's his own mind.

And listening to the haunting lyrics of Scottish crooner Lewis Capaldi - quoted above - is his unlikely way of doing it.

Everything Warner has done on cricket field leading into and since he's made his return to international cricket has been closely examined, picked apart and discussed. His 'bromance' with Ashes foe Jonny Bairstow in India; how he - back in team kit - interacted with Australian teammates at the airport; whether he would take the bait from boozy British spectators; when and under what circumstances he would front the press.

But Warner has quietly made a significant change to an almost-everyday routine that has gone unnoticed.

In a bid to focus his mind when he bats at training, the left-hander clicks play on his smart watch, pops in white wireless earphones, walks into his net and takes on a snarling battery of fast bowlers hurtling a brand-new piece of leather at up to 150kph.

More aware than ever of the constant scrutiny he's under, Warner expected the question about his new habit sooner.

"Why do I wear headphones at training? Well, I was waiting for that," he said with a grin after Australia's 64-run World Cup win over tournament favourites England.

"It is something for me to relax my mind.

"In the last 12 months, I just did a lot of different stuff.

"I did a whole session with my headphones on a couple of times and it really relaxed me at training.

"When you have guys coming at you at 150kph, you don't want to be listening to any external noise around the training sessions. So I just sing along to whatever top 40 (song) is on my iWatch. 

"It is a bit of a tempo thing … it is calming me down while I am out there."

Capaldi is one of those artists on his playlist and when Warner has really faced the music at this World Cup, he's used the lessons of those sessions to remain firmly in his own little bubble.

It's been effective. From seven games, he's already scored 500 runs. With potentially four more innings to go if Australia can make the final, Sachin Tendulkar's all-time Cup record of 673 is not out of his grasp.

Both he and fellow returning batsman Steve Smith have previously said they hadn't really heard the crowds booing them, but Warner was well aware of it when he briefly fielded on the boundary during England's doomed chase on Tuesday.

"People have the right to come in here, they pay their dollars and if they want to boo us, they can," said Warner, who wore a wry, knowing smile as he walked back to the famed Lord's pavilion copping jeers after making 53. "I thrive on that stuff, I love it.

"I went out to the corner (of the ground, while fielding) there today and copped it. At the end of the day you have to smile - they pay their money to come and watch us and we are grateful for them to come and sit down and watch us.

"We try and put on a good show for everyone.

"I always just smile. I take my (sun)glasses off and look everyone in the eye and just smile.

"That is what is about, I am living the dream, I am out here at Lord's, playing cricket for my country."

There could be another few Warners playing international sport down the track, too.

Who they play for could be up for debate though, Warner joked. His wife, Candice, is set to give birth to their third daughter on Sunday, the day after Australia's game against New Zealand. Their children are unlikely to be short on athletic genes – Candice is a former professional ironwoman, while David is arguably the quickest, fittest and most naturally-gifted cricketer of his generation. Their first two daughters – Ivy-Mae and Indi-Rae – are also Maltese citizens thanks to their mother's heritage, while the fact their latest arrival will be born in London should qualify her for a British passport.

"I think there might be a bit of a fight there but you never know," Warner laughed when asked which country their youngest daughter might play cricket for.

"I'm very excited, I can't wait. I think it's a bit of a relief for the wife actually. It's been a long time. The last couple of days have been a bit tiring for her but we're excited as a family.

"I just love being a father. I've got a great, supportive wife, a great family base at home as well. We've got great support around us, the guys here have been fantastic, they've really got around me at this important time for my family.

"But my wife, as selfless as she is, cricket's the priority and winning games for Australia and that's what we're trying to do."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE