No concerns over David Warner security at Cricket World Cup, says Australia captain Aaron Finch

Warner and Steve Smith are representing Australia for first time since being banned

Australia captain Aaron Finch is “unaware” of any concerns David Warner has over security during the 2019 Cricket World Cup and said no specific plans have been put in place to protect players this summer.

Reports recently claimed the controversial opener’s manager met with Cricket Australia to discuss the safety of Warner and his family, which includes his heavily pregnant wife and two young daughters.

Warner and Steve Smith are representing Australia for the first time since being banned for their part in the sandpaper scandal during a Test match against South Africa in March 2018.

Warner is far from popular with opposition fans, and is known for his hostile nature on the field.

Finch, who only recently became captain, admitted there will always be things that Aussie cricketers have to deal with in England, but has no concerns over individuals.

“Once the World Cup gets underway and we get into the tournament and the game against England and further into the Ashes there is no doubt the crowds will play a part,” he said. “That’s expected no matter where you go in the world, personally and as an organisation, we don’t have things in place for that.”

On top of being fined, banned and being stripped of the right to hold future leadership roles by Cricket Australia, Warner and Smith also saw their 2018 Indian Premier League contracts ripped up following the incident in South Africa.

This year, however, they returned to the IPL and impressed for Rajasthan Royals (Smith) and Hyderabad Sunrisers (Warner).

Warner and Smith have long dominated international and domestic cricket and Finch will use their experience throughout the World Cup despite their damaged reputation.

“Since they’ve come back into the squad and the set-up in the last couple of weeks, they’ve been fantastic and contributed as much as they can. Their morale has been unbelievable and the input has been fantastic.

“They’re very important and the runs they have been making in the lead up to this tournament has been impressive.”

The defending champions arrived in England on the back of a remarkable series win in India to end a forgettable spell of five series defeats.

In the March test, India took a 2-0 lead and were on course for a whitewash win before Finch’s side produced an inspired comeback to win 3-2.

David Warner is representing Australia for the first time since being banned after the ball-tampering scandal (AP)

“In the past, we may have been one-nil down, two-nil down, and would have had a deflated feeling around the side,” said Finch, who will no doubt use that impressive turnaround as motivation during tough spells this summer.

“In a series or game, we keep hanging in there and know that when you get to the key moments that you can create something against an experienced side.

“The belief we had in that series to keep hanging in no matter what the situation turned momentum and changed the game.

“If you take this World Cup lightly you get beaten, there’s no doubt about that and with the structure of the tournament, which I think is fantastic you play the best teams.”

Australia’s historic reserve of resilience and the aura of invincibility had dried up in recent years, especially in white-ball cricket, but Finch has found a way to propel this side onto an upward curve.

The World Cup may come a little too early in Paine’s tenure for Australia to be stand-out candidates to lift the trophy at Lord’s in July, but with off-field issues behind them, a new sense of togetherness and a wealth of talent, this is a side that must not be ruled out.