ICC World Cup 2019 | I thrive on people booing me, I love it, says David Warner

Prior to the start of the 2019 World Cup, the limelight was primarily on David Warner and Steve Smith, who were returning from their one-year bans post the Newlands ball-tampering saga. The crowd has welcomed the duo back with mixed reactions, as they continue to receive cheers and jeers from different sections of the crowd. When a section of Indian fans booed Smith in the encounter between India and Australia earlier this month, Virat Kohli pleaded the crowd not to boo Smith and applaud him instead, winning the hearts of people all around the world in the process.

However, the indifferent reaction from the crowd seems to have had no impact on Warner's performance whatsoever. If anything, the boos from the crowd seem to have motivated the opener, as admitted by the man himself.

"People have the right to come in here, they pay their dollars and if they want to boo us, they can. I thrive on that stuff, I love it,” Warner told reporters at Lord’s," said Warner to reporters at Lord's, as reported by News18. 

Warner emphasized on the fact that people have the right to do what they feel like doing and that the players are grateful for the fan support.

"I went out to the corner (of the ground, while fielding) there and copped it. At the end of the day you have to smile - they pay their money to come and watch us and we are grateful for them to come and sit down and watch us." said Warner.  Warner also stated that representing his country at the Home of Cricket was a dream come true for him. "We try and put on a good show for everyone. I always just smile. I take my glasses off and look everyone in the eye and just smile. That is what is about, I am living the dream. I am out here at Lord's, playing cricket for my country," Warner said. 

After helping his side successfully cement a place in the semi-final, Warner's focus will now be to help Australia finish in the top two. Australia's penultimate match of the group stages will be against the Kiwis at Lord's on June 29.