Not many would have expected Oamaru to be the topic of conversation at David Warner's press conference in Wellington today — yet the sleepy Otago town found itself catching strays from the Australian batsman.
Warner was asked about his time spent playing on New Zealand shores, and reflected on a short two-game stint with Northern Districts during the 2010/11 season when the now 37-year-old was first finding his feet in international cricket.
"We played in Oamaru... I literally thought it was a ghost town. I think it was a Saturday or something and there was just no one there," a grinning Warner recalled.
"We legitimately played on a football [rugby] field. It was quite crazy coming from Australia and we're playing on a rugby league field and I'm thinking 'what's going on here?'
"But it was good. I enjoyed it, really enjoyed it."
Despite the barbs for Oamaru, Warner said he was glad to be back in New Zealand and hoped Australia could tour more often.
"I definitely think Australia should come over here more. I don't know why the reasons we haven't come over here," Warner said, before mentioning it was often difficult to schedule a tour that fits the schedule of both teams.
"We enjoy coming over here and playing. I think if one memory was to stand out it would be when we chased that 240 at Eden Park [in the 2017/18 series]. That was a great game for us."
But his memories weren't all rosy, particularly when it came to the Kiwi crowds.
In 2016, Warner described the abuse from New Zealand fans as “derogatory and vulgar” and said it was too personal.
Today, he said he expected more of the same in the coming series, and hit out at some fans' character.
"The crowd, yeah, they got personal, but if they have to get personal, that's their character.
"I just go about my business. 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 own bed.
"We're here to play the game of cricket that we love, enjoy and put bums on seats to keep the game going."
Warner will be taking part only in the three-game T20 series starting on Wednesday, having retired from Test cricket at the start of the year.
Follow the Black Caps during New Zealand's summer of cricket on TVNZ+
SHARE ME