Mumbai: David Warner, the Allan Border Medallist of the year, was awarded the 2016 Philips Sports Dad of the Year for his role as a father of two, Ivy Mae and Indi Rae on Sunday.
Asked about this award by cricket.com.au Warner said, “Fatherhood has helped me a lot with my game, and off the field it gives me something always to have as a responsibility,”
He added, “I’ve always dreamed of having kids and I thoroughly enjoy having children, and I think my wife has been a key factor for me being a little bit more tame and humble as I’ve got older.”
“I think she got me into a great routine coming from her sporting background of being an iron woman, which takes a lot of discipline and strength and courage to do that (sport). And upon yourself to get up in the early hours of the morning to start training is a credit to her, and I think that’s exactly what modelled me into probably being the person I am today.” said Warner.
National Rugby League pair James Maloney and Corey Parker, Matthew Pavlich, Jarrad McVeigh, Brent Harvey, Tour de France cyclist Simon Gerrans, field hockey star Jamie Dwyer, Garth Tander and footballer Tim Cahill were the other athletes nominated for the award.
Warner is all set to lead Australia in the T20s against Sri Lanka in the absence of Steven Smith, but yet his family remains on his fore fronts. The balance between cricket and family is well By warner and in the interview he stated, “Things down the track always change and that is becoming a parent, getting married, you start to travel more when you play all three forms and now having two kids and being married – that’s a choice”.
“You have a choice to do that, and I love every minute of that and something will have to give eventually because I do miss my kids when I’m away, and my wife. They’re the choices I’m going to have to make near the end of my career, you’re gonna have to make sacrifices.” He added.
Warner has played 54 Tests and 78 ODIs, scoring 22 centuries across both formats. He was also a part of the Australian team that won the 2015 World Cup. Warner also led Sunrisers Hyderabad to win the series in their first IPL. He was the leading run-getter for SRH with 843 runs in the competition at an average of 60.57, including nine 50-plus scores.