David Warner says he does not feel under any pressure at the pointy end of a struggling Australian top order despite a series of lean scores since his stunning hundred against India in Perth last summer.
Since blazing a hundred in a session against the hapless Indians in January on his way to a brilliant 180 that swept Australia to a series victory, Warner has struggled for form in the three-Test series against the West Indies and failed again with the bat in the first Test against South Africa.
In Brisbane, Australia slumped to 3-40 as its top order again looked brittle before Ed Cowan and Michael Clarke righted the ship.
Exciting opening batsman Warner's dismissal to Dale Steyn for just 4 added to his scores of 8, 28, 42, 22, 29, 17, 50 and 11 since that 180 as his Test average slipped below 40.
The 26-year-old has averaged just 23 since that groundbreaking hundred at the WACA.
"I don't think so at all," Warner said when asked if he felt under pressure heading into the second Test against South Africa next week.
"As long as we are winning games and we are on the way to becoming number one ... as long as we are winning games, that's all that counts.
"I'm feeling good - I'm nice and refreshed. I'm ready to go again.
"I've been sitting in the change room for a long time watching the other guys score a lot of runs and I'm ready to get back out there myself."
Warner said he was looking forward to proving himself against South Africa's world-class pace attack of the number one-ranked Test bowler in Steyn, number two Vernon Philander and number nine Morne Morkel, and vowed to continue his aggressive approach.
"I'll be hitting a lot of balls this week and I will prepare as well as I can prepare," Warner said at a promotion for Australia's Twenty20 clash with Sri Lanka at Sydney's Olympic stadium on Australia Day.
"Nothing changes for me - it's a simple game plan ... all guns blazing if I can."
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, sydney-2000 First posted November 15, 2012 13:45:51
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