David Warner has condemned kiwi crowds for their abuse towards Australian cricketers. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Australian batter David Warner has called out kiwi crowds for their abuse.
Warner said the last time he played in Aotearoa in 2016, he received a torrent of vitriol from fans.
He has condemned the abuse but said he was able to rise above it.
"For me, it's about coming in trying to put my best foot forward and score runs. The crowd? Yeah, they got personal but if they have to get personal, that's their character. I just go about my business, but that's upon the individual, if that's what they feel like they have to do, then so be it."
With 376 international caps under his belt, it was simply noise for Warner at this point in his storied career.
"To be fair, I think it's the harsh reality that we're neighbours and in sport, we like to beat each other. So, from that perspective, we're going to be expecting the crowd to come at us as hard as they can. And as we always say, it's in one ear and out the other if I actually hear anything."
The Black Caps will meet the Australia in the first of three T20s in Wellington on Wednesday night.
"If you want to pay your money to come and abuse people then, you know, you have to go back and lay in your own bed. We get to play the game of cricket that we love, enjoy and try and put bums on seats to keep the game going," Warner said.
The veteran opener recently announced his retirement from test and ODI cricket and will end his international career after the T20 World Cup in June.
Despite the heated crowd reception, Warner said the Australia and New Zealand rivalry deserved more, and he would like to see more frequent tours.
"I think definitely Australia should come over here [to New Zealand] more. I don't know the reasons we haven't. It's a challenge, the schedule has always been the hot topic. But I think with our rivalry and being close neighbours that it does fit."
He would also like to see the Kiwis enter a team in Australia's biggest domestic T20 competition.
"I've always said that we should have a New Zealand team in the Big Bash competition. You have the NRL and Super Rugby so all that works well. It's just logistically, I don't know how that fits."
Though he will soon depart international duties, Warner said he would be leaving Australian cricket in an incredibly strong position.
"It's the women as well. I think we're just doing a lot of things right. When you've got that experience in those moments, the big time plays. It really shows. We have the belief and the backing of each other to go out there and play the way that we want and it's showing on the field."
Black Caps vs Australia T20I Fixtures:
1st T20I - 7:10pm, Wednesday February 21- Sky Stadium, Wellington
2nd T20I - 7:10pm, Friday February 23 - Eden Park, Auckland
3rd T20I - 1pm, Sunday February 25 - Eden Park, Auckland
