The world’s best one-day bowlers will arrive in Australia over the next month and David Warner feels primed to take them down.
Warner and Aaron Finch’s hard-hitting opening partnership will play a pivotal role in Australia’s bid to reclaim the World Cup.
Warner will come up against English ace James Anderson when the tournament starts on February 14 at the MCG.
Should the hosts progress to the final at the same venue on March 29, South African speedster Dale Steyn could be there to unleash hell.
Warner is far from wary.
“There’s no bowler in the world that I’m scared of,” Warner said on Sunday, when Australia named a 15-man squad for the World Cup.
“I’ll be arrogant and say I have taken most of them down.
“Dale Steyn is a very good one-day bowler.
“He is one bowler I try and take on because I know if I don’t take him on then he can really take it to us.”
Warner made 2014 a year to remember – smacking 1136 Test runs including six centuries.
But the belligerent opener hasn’t posted a one-day hundred in almost three years.
Warner suggested the key to shuffling between the two formats was a case of keeping the same mindset he has in Test cricket.
It’s something the 28-year-old admits he hasn’t always done well.
“If I’m striking at 80 in Test cricket I don’t need to go any harder in white-ball cricket. That’s a thing I need to keep working on,” Warner said.
“Knowing I don’t have to hit boundaries from ball one.
“I can really get myself into the innings and I think that’s what I have learned over the last 18, 24 months.”
Warner noted the upcoming tri-series which starts with a match between England and Australia in Sydney on Friday and also includes India, will be the perfect chance to fine-tune his aggression before the World Cup.
“There’s going to be no excuses,” Warner said.
“Because there’s going to be a lot of game time to get ready. It’s about me trying to bat the way I do and not go after every ball.”
Warner made his one-day international debut in 2009, but missed the 2011 World Cup due to poor form.
“I was horrible when I first started … my priority (now) is to try to bat long periods of time,” Warner said.
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