Warner revels in opportunity to adapt

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David Warner believes matches against Leicestershire and Ireland will help Australia acclimatise to the conditions they are set to face in the NatWest Series against England.

The left-handed opener got his tour off to a superb start today at Grace Road, striking five fours and three sixes in a top-score of 74 as the tourists posted 242 for eight off 41 overs.

Some of the 15-man Australia squad have never experienced the testing playing environment the United Kingdom has to offer, but Warner is sure the 102-run rain-affected Duckworth/Lewis victory over Josh Cobb's under-strength outfit and an ODI in Belfast on Saturday will stand them in good stead ahead of their meetings with England.

"It just shows what the true conditions of England are," he said. "We always knew it was going to disrupt us in our game, but we just go out and do what we have to do. It's great to have those conditions in place and we look forward to Ireland.

"For my game it is trying to pull it in because it does a lot early on. It's one of those things where I have to keep going at my game as I do and if I have to make adjustments, then I will adjust."

Warner was accompanied by Matthew Wade at the top of the order in Leicester, leaving Shane Watson to occupy the number three position.

David Warner admitted he is looking to rein in his attacking instincts at the top of the order "because it does a lot early on" in England

The pair played aggressively in putting on 69 to get their side off to a lightning start, but Warner is not sure whether the successful opening combination is set in stone.

"We haven't spoken about it, I got told the other day that I was opening with him," he said.

"We are both similar players, both aggressive and as a unit out there we need to work on our ones a little bit more.

"So when we get to the little period between 10 and 20 overs, we need to work out how we can get off strike a little bit more instead of looking for those boundaries.

"That is part of our games where we can get away or get bogged down a little bit. We have been working on that a lot."

Getting the right balance in the line-up is a challenge captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur both face.

And with the experienced Mike Hussey missing the tour due to the birth of his child, Warner feels it is important to find players who can compliment each other.

"It's just balance in the team and the line-up. It's not got anything to do with the pitch, we just need to get the structure right," he added.

"Mike Hussey not been there is a big blow to the line-up but we are looking forward to getting out there and finding the right combination. Obviously that is up to Michael Clarke and the coach to work out the best line-up for us."

Australia head to Northern Ireland's capital on Saturday for a televised one-day international and, with Will Porterfield's side pulling off shocks in the past, Warner is adamant Australia cannot afford to take their opponents lightly.

"It's another one-day international for us," he said.

"We have come here to win eight games, we have won one and have seven to go. We need to make the most of that opportunity and stay at number one in the world."

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