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Posted: 2017-06-04 16:34:47

The Bull is not for turning. On his first stroll down Media Street since highlighting a worst-case scenario if the pay dispute is not resolved and Cricket Australia proceed with a protracted player lockout, David Warner restated that the Ashes could be in jeopardy.

The Australian vice-captain then gave CA not-so-subtle jab for his belief they have prosecuted their argument primarily through media briefings. He also took the opportunity to brush off personal attacks directed at him following his comments to Fairfax Media.

Australia VS New Zealand match washed out

The New Zealand and Australian cricket teams abandoned the Champion Trophy match due to rainfall.

"If we are unemployed, we have no contracts, we can't play," Warner said matter-of-factly of the Ashes conundrum. "We are pretty sure that they will come to an agreement. But, as you know, we are going to be unemployed come July 1. So we have to wait and see."

Warner observed beyond "a couple of emails" management had not engaged with players. "It is only what we hear in the media and that's how CA have been driving it the whole way," he said. "They have been using the media as a voice and we get the message from there."

Recommitting to his position, Warner pledged "full support" to fellow players and affirmed he is "100 per cent" alongside the Australian Cricketers' Association. "They are doing a great job for us," he said. "From a players' point of view, we are pretty vocal and upbeat."

Warner added that he remains hopeful and confident a new Memorandum of Understanding can be struck between now and the end of the financial year: "That it is in the capable hands of the ACA to get to the table with CA and come to some form of agreement."

The response to Warner's intervention included a column lambasting his robust support of the retention of revenue sharing for Sheffield Shield players. As evidence of supposed greed, it cited the expensive car he drives and the price of his house.

"It comes with my background and my history with that kind of stuff," he said in response to criticism of this variety. "They can have those opinions. For me, what has been written about me in the past, or what gets written now, I don't take any notice."

Warner dismissed suggestions that the off-field manoeuvring could distract their Champions Trophy campaign, which effectively now enters sudden-death mode after Friday's washout against New Zealand.

"It is a big thing that we could be unemployed," he acknowledged. "But from us, our job is to play cricket, focus on winning the tournament and not let our country down."

The opener recognised that Australia's unconvincing Edgbaston chase, cut short by at 3-for-53 in pursuit of 235 in 33 overs, was poorly executed. "We didn't allow ourselves to actually pick off the ones and twos and play normal cricket," he said, praising also the Kiwi seamers.

Next up for Steve Smith's men is Bangladesh, who made 6-for-305 against England in the tournament's first game, before the hosts comfortably hauled it down with 16 balls and eight wickets in hand.

But the underrated outfit has been giant killers before – notably eliminating England from the 2015 World Cup – and are ranked above Pakistan in current One Day International standings.

Adding to the degree of difficulty is the rain forecast for London on Monday with the game is scheduled at The Oval. It is also the venue where Bangladesh was heavily supported by thousands of passionate ex-pats against England and will be again.

Even so, getting back to the creature comforts of home after four months away in India and now England is not yet Warner's priority. "Every single team has had a long summer," he said. "But when you come to a tournament like this, everyone is up and about."

Following their Bangladesh fixture, the Australians return to Birmingham for their final group game against competition favourites England on Saturday.

Likely XI: Warner, Finch, Smith, Henriques, Head, Maxwell, Wade, Hastings/Zampa, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood.

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