David Warner has been at the centre of Australia's terrific run in ODIs at home, under their coach, Darren Lehmann. The Aussies have won 25 and lost just 4 matches at home in One Dayers since Lehmann took charge. This includes the 2015 World Cup triumph.
Warner has been a vital figure in Australia's ODI surge. Interestingly, ODIs was considered Warner's weaker format but he is the highest run-scorer in 2016 in ODIs with six centuries.
He credited a change in approach in One Day matches for his terrific record this year. Bringing a Test match attitude towards an ODI innings, particularly early on, has reaped rewards for the Australian vice-captain.
"First and foremost it's been the format I struggled at early in my career," Warner said. "The last 18-24 months I've really worked hard to try to construct my innings and build an innings, and not play too many big shots early in my innings. If the ball's there I'm still going to go after it, but that's just what I put it down to, trying to construct an innings and relay that Test match attitude into the one-dayers."
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Warner is well aware of the nature of the wicket at the Manuka Oval. He described the pitch as a "belter" and felt that New Zealand did their best by trying to swing the ball early on. He added that batting first in the ground provided a distinct advantage and that the Aussies capitalised on it.
Knowing the nature of the wicket, Warner assessed that while chasing, away teams always looked at the huge target and tried to start the innings with a bang, which is a huge mistake. According to the pocket-rocket, finishing off games at the Manuka Oval is easier rather than starting them.
Australia came off a series loss in Tests to South Africa but won the final match of the Series, a day-night affair, at Adelaide. Warner felt that the change in momentum happened as a result of rotation in personnel.
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"It's one of those things where if you get some fresh faces in and around, your energy gets up and going, and I can't really put my finger on it," Warner said. "I just think the boys took it hard, it really hurt us down in Hobart. Losing that series, we saw it really does hurt. I think it was the kick up the backside that we needed to get us back up and going."
As a senior player in the group, Warner stated that it is up to guys like him to motivate the younger guys in the team when they are struggling for form.
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