Don't 'poke the bear' - Warner says Aussies shouldn't sledge Kohli
23 June, 2020
Australia's David Warner features warned against sledging Virat Kohli when India tour Australia this season, telling "trying to poke the bear" will only make the superstar batsman play better.
As being cricket slowly gets back to action after coronavirus suspensions, India are slated to tour Australia for four Check matches in December-January in what is set to be always a highlight of the year.
Warner, a lynchpin of Australia's batting strike, said he is pumped up about the confrontation but that he'll stay away from taunting India's captain.
"I just thrive on the crowd, I thrive on people type of going at me personally in the discipline. And engaging in that struggle," Warner advised India Today television.
"I suspect Virat is quite similar, if you go a bit at Virat he comes out harder with the bat and he plays amazing. We've seen that time and time again.
"There is absolutely no point in actually trying to poke the bear because by the end of the day if you do that it simply fires up the person a little more."
This past year India claimed their primary Test series win on Australia after 71 years of wanting.
Warner, who all along with Steve Smith missed the series even while they served a good ball-tampering ban, said Australia happen to be far better prepared this time.
"It's a much-anticipated go back to Australia for India. I am enthusiastic, one to be selected and become a part of that. Last time we were not bad but were beaten by a good group and their bowling was relentless," said Warner.
"Now, India contains the best batting line-up and our bowlers should to focus on them."
Warner said he's as well keen to take up the lucrative Indian Premier League if the International Cricket Council postpones the T20 World Glass, scheduled to start out October 18 found in Australia.
The fate of the T20 showpiece will be decided the following month and if the World Cup is sidelined, the delayed IPL could take its place. Cricket Australia has got admitted the World Cup looks "unrealistic" this year as the pandemic lingers.
Warner, who is captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad found in the IPL, said quarantine rules for foreigners entering Australia was one of many problems for the Globe Cup.
"The challenges around receiving every single nation that participates in the World Cup into Australia, given the fact that we possess the quarantine for two weeks... we must obviously follow those rules and naturally we await your choice from the ICC," Warner said.
He added: "I am definitely sure and great that people (Australian players) can come and take up in the IPL if that replaces the Community Cup schedule."
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