AUSTRALIA can thank former England coach Trevor Bayliss in part for David Warner's Twenty20 World Cup, with Aaron Finch claiming the opener's critics poked the bear.
Warner was dropped by Bayliss at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League just two months ago, following scores of zero and two.
It prompted questions over his form ahead of the T20 World Cup, after another run of outs in the warm–up games.
But come Sunday night in Dubai, Warner was toasting a third half–century of the World Cup, claiming man–of–the–tournament honours in Australia's maiden T20 title triumph.
"I can't believe people wrote him off a couple of weeks ago saying he was done," Finch said.
"It was like poking the bear."
An Australian native, Bayliss was England's coach between 2015 and 2019.
It was in the latter of those series where England's attack also ran through Warner with the swinging ball with ease.
But Finch insisted he had never lost faith in his opening partner after the most recent run of outs, claiming he'd predicted his prize when Warner's struggles first began.
"I called Justin Langer a few months ago and said: 'Don't worry about Davey, he'll be man of the tournament'," Finch said.
"He's one of the all–time great batters. And he's a fighter.
"He's someone who when his back is against the wall, that's when you get the very, very best of David Warner.
"It was a special finish to the tournament for him, the last couple of knocks."
Warner endured a similar run ahead of the 2019 one–day World Cup, where he was also the second leading run–scorer and averaged 83. – AAP
