Champion opener Matthew Hayden believes controversial star David Warner needs to buy into the Australian team culture before he can achieve his rich potential.
Three centuries, including an Australian record 197, in the domestic one-day competition have put Warner firmly on track to retain his place for the Ashes-opening Test at the Gabba on November 21.
The return to form pleased Hayden, who is in India commentating on Australia’s one-day series.
But Hayden argues scoring runs is only half the equation for Warner to unlock all of his grand abilities and make the most of his Test career.
The 27-year-old was suspended in June by Cricket Australia after throwing a punch at England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar.
Hayden believes for Warner to succeed at Test level, he needs to buy into the strict Australian team culture.
“The culture demands excellence on and off the field,” Hayden told AAP.
“There’s been a few instances that haven’t been desirable and I don’t think he would shy away from that.
“His commodity is runs but he’s got to also put together a personality which is consistent with the culture which maintains a really good discipline.
“That’s just international cricket now. And if you don’t want to do that, that’s fine.
“But I hope he can do that because he’s a great talent. Time will tell if he wants it.”
Hayden said Warner needs to repay the faith of selectors by continuing his scoring onslaught.
“David Warner has got a lot to prove right now,” Hayden added. “He’s got to make a substantial amount of runs for a long period of time.”
Australia’s jumped to a 2-1 lead on their one-day tour of India thanks, in no small part, to a strong opening combination of Phil Hughes and Aaron Finch.
Hayden said Warner should be watching their performances as a reminder of where he needs to be.
“It could easily be David Warner playing right now. But at the moment, it’s Finch and Hughes getting runs.
“(Warner) has just got to do his job and let his bat do the talking, and keep piling on the runs.”
On Tuesday, chairman of selectors John Inverarity spoke glowingly of Warner, saying time spent on home soil had served the young powerhouse well.
“I think David’s learned a lot during the past five or six months,” Inverarity said.
“It’s been very good for David to be settled in his home bed for some months … he’s had a real chance to settle down and I think it’s been in his interests to do.”
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