'If they have to get personal, that’s...' - David Warner sheds light on personal abuse during last Kiwi tour ahead of three-match T20I series

The veteran Australia opener David Warner is set to play on his last tour of New Zealand as the Aussies will be playing the three-match T20I series against the Kiwis. The series will start with the first fixture of the T20I series in Auckland on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Warner remembered the personal abuse he and the Aussie side faced during their last tour to New Zealand 8 years back in the year 2016. He also termed it ‘derogatory’ and ‘vulgar’. He blamed the Kiwi crowd for going at a personal level of abuse at the Australians.

“The crowd, yeah, they got personal, but if they have to get personal, that’s their character. I just go about my business,” said David Warner to reporters on Monday ahead of the T20I series against the Blackcaps.

“But that’s upon each individual. If that’s what they feel like they have to do, then so be it. If you want to pay your money to come and abuse people, you have to go back and lay in your bed. We’re here to play the game of cricket that we love, and enjoy and put bums on seats to keep the game going,” he added later.

“In sports, we like to beat each other” – David Warner about Australia-New Zealand rivalry

Furthermore, the veteran Southpaw also spoke about the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand in sports to beat each other; he acknowledged that this rivalry is just because of them being close neighbours.

“It’s always the harsh reality that we’re neighbours. In sports, we like to beat each other. The schedule has always been a hot topic, but I think definitely, with our rivalry and being close neighbours, it does fit,” he said.

Notably, it will be the last T20I assignment for Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in June, which is scheduled to be played in the United States and West Indies.