Australia playing for pride, says David Warner

Bengaluru: Even as India are chasing a record, the fourth ODI will also be a landmark day for Australian opener David Warner, who is set to earn his 100th cap. The swashbuckling southpaw made his debut in the 50-over format against South Africa in 2009 and hopes his 100th game ends the same way as his first — a win for the Aussies.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Warner took a little time to acknowledge his journey as an ODI batsman. “I am extremely proud of where I am. Coming from playing T20 in MCG in front of 90,000 people and a couple of games later to represent Australia in the ODI format. I never thought it would come so fast, but I learnt a lot in the early stages of my career,” he said.

Skipper Steve Smith also crossed the milestone earlier in the series, thereby stamping Warner’s seniority in a side that doesn’t boast too much experience.

Quizzed upon former paceman Rodney Hogg’s accusation of favouritism on Smith’s part to pick his team, Warner coolly replied, “I don’t know where they come up with these theories. It's up to the selectors to pick the team. At the end of the day, we're selected to play and we go out there and give our best. A player can’t help being picked or not being picked.”