Sydney
Australian opener David Warner today said “well done to him to go home and be by his partner’s side for the birth of his first child”, when asked about Virat Kohli’s absence after the first Test next month.

Warner also said his “days are numbered” in international cricket and that he would rather ignore than engage if Indian players sledge him during the upcoming series.Warner, in a virtual press conference, touched upon his evolution as a batsman in the past couple of years.

“I’ve just recently turned 34, so my days are numbered, when you’re in the 30s. There’s obviously a risk element but there’s obviously a cricket smarts element to it as well,” the explosive opener said.

Warner said he would prefer to look the other way if Indians try to get chatty with him. “I’ll always draw from that mate. To try and get engaged, that’s the way they like to play as well,” he said. “Probably try and reversing the effect by trying and ignoring it, trying to take it on board and using it against them by using your bat. It’s probably something I’ve learnt over time.”