David Warner has the mental strength to handle the attention of his controversial cricket return

HE will have unprecedented attention fixated on him, but David Warner is well equipped to handle the pressure that will fall on his shoulders as he makes his return to cricket for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal.

Australian batsman David Warner reacts while returning to the pavilion after being dismissed for 124 runs during the fourth one day international (ODI) match in the ongoing India-Australia cricket series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on September 28, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Manjunath KIRAN / ----IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE----- / GETTYOUT

DAVID Warner’s long-time mentor Tom Moody believes the star opener has the thick hide needed to deal with the unprecedented attention that will fixate on him over the next 12 months.

Following Steve Smith’s confidence-boosting return to action in Toronto’s T20 tournament on Thursday, his former-vice-captain gets his chance at the same gulp of fresh air first thing Friday morning following three months out.

Warner’s razor-eye and timing with the bat suggest he shouldn’t have any trouble bouncing back at international level despite the year-long ban he’s copped for his role in the ball-tampering scandal.

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Steve Smith (L) and David Warner (R) are making their returns to the cricket pitch amid their ball-tampering bans. Pic: AFP

However, Moody — who has coached Warner the past few years in the Indian Premier League — says the real challenge will be the constant scrutiny he will inevitably face at every stage of his bid to rejoin the Australian dressing room, starting in the quirky surrounds of Ontario, Canada.

Moody, in charge of the Montreal Tigers team Warner’s Winnipeg Hawks will tackle on Friday, says it’s this pressure that will be the 31-year-old’s greatest challenge.

“All eyes are going to be on his success or failure, through a different window than they would normally,” Moody told The Daily Telegraph.

“Because there’s been so much scrutiny around this whole incident, it’s just going to put a completely different spin on it.

“I think Dave is a very resilient character. He’s a combative character. We see that on the cricket field. I think he’ll deal with that pretty well.”

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David Warner (R) has played for Moody (2R) at the Hyderabad Sunrisers. Pic: AFP

Moody was forced to go into battle without his Hyderabad captain for this year’s IPL after the Indian board sensationally banned Warner and Smith in the wake of the Cape Town fiasco.

However, Moody confirmed Warner will be welcomed straight back into the fold in 2019.

He believes Warner and Smith have already paid enough of a price.

“Absolutely. He’s under contract with us. It wasn’t our decision to not have him involved this year,” said Moody.

Australian cricketer David Warner cries during a press conference over his role in the ball-tampering affair.

“You just want these guys out there playing the game again because being an elite sportsman only has a narrow window in anyone’s lifetime anyway. So to take a year away from that in the prime of that window is an incredibly significant hit.”

Warner will go head-to-head with friends and long-time teammates Peter Siddle and Moises Henriques, who are both lining-up for Montreal.

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