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.”
davros
Guest
maybe the chappels in influnce is part of the problem?
Jorji Costava
Guest
Interesting what Ian Chappell has had to say about the Argus Review and the Cricket Australia management. I think this is the root of all our problems. Too many managers, too much input, and a classic case of too many chefs spoiling the soup.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Does he mean that Warner should eat Yoghurt?
davros
Guest
what surprises me johhno ...is that you bothered to reply at all ....matt the blat therer...I just don't even bother
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Surprised Hayden can peel his lips from the BCCI's arse to speak.
Clavers
Guest
Silver, It's not too late to select Katich actually
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
all going points, johnno. Rogers should have played 30-40 tests already and who knows what results we may have had with him opening that whole time. If Phil Jacques had been healthy it could have been one of the great opening partnerships. Katich at 3 or 4, Hussey not retiring early like he did, could have been a good few years
Johnno
Guest
And what Micheal Clarke and Watto buy into the dressing room culture. Watto and the homework scandal, Watto not always being a team player, pup rather haveing a night with Bingle than sing the team song with the boys, and soaking it up in beer, and sweat, and upsetting Kat Katich as true blue teamate as you can get, one of the boys . And Pup and Watto's constant jostling power fueds, and Ponting's tantrums when he gets out like in 2005 ASHES and sledging. And Andrew Symond's Hayden's great mate turning up drunk for a match vs Bangladesh. Oh and the coach speking his mind, and slagging off opponents felt sorry for Stuart Broad at Boof's lack of maturity. How boganish and cheap, and rightly fined was Boof. So Haydos should look at some of the other lads in the team. And Haydos can't throw stones either at Warner, he didn't go into bat for Chris Rogers when Rogers first was in the team, looked at him as a rival rather than a team-mate and didn't welcome him in,disgraceful. Well Roger's answered critics by being as down to earth as e aussies like it, and making good runs in the ASHES, and a well deserved hundred. Well done Chris Rogers. And Haydos slagged off Harbajen, so Haydos is hardly the best example of buying into the culture and being the perfect role model for up an coming cricketers. Give me Chris Rogers, where's his heart on his sleeve, and loves the baggy green.