Warner and Smith's next challenge will be returning to South Africa for the first time since the Cape Town meltdown. The pair leave on Friday with Australia's white-ball squads. Warner said he was ready to handle any abuse from a sometimes confrontational South African crowd.
"For me personally,it won't be hard at all. Obviously,it's going to be very hostile. I copped it in England. I actually enjoyed that and played along with it,"he said.
Warner was almost in tears as he paid tribute to his wife Candice - his"rock"- for her support through his year-long ban and together they worked on Warner's fitness. He also thanked Australian team coach Justin Langer for helping with his reintegration into the Australian set-up.
"I had no doubt that I had the capabilities of being here again. It was,obviously,a lot of hard work and commitment to be able to put my hand back up for selection and go away and do what I know best and that is score as many runs as I can in any competition that I was playing in,"he said.
"There was,obviously,a lot of work behind the scenes to reintigrate all three of us (Smith and Cameron Bancroft) and I really appreciate the way that unfolded."
Warner also opened up as to why he had opted to bypass the Big Bash League despite several of his international teammates taking part. He said his year-long ban had given his time to reflect.
Steve Smith and his wife Dani Willis arrive at the awards.Credit:Getty Images
"Leading into that South Africa tour,we played a lot of cricket. I actually put my hand up to go to New Zealand and captain the[T20] team,[while] a couple of other guys had a break and guys went to South Africa earlier,''Warner said.
"It's about putting your hand up and knowing how much cricket you've actually played. I just felt like I didn't need to play the Big Bash. It was about having a rest. That was more important for me and I feel better for it now,having had a 15-to-20 day break."
Warner has said he will debate over the next year whether to remain a three-format player but insisted"Test cricket will always be the priority".
The AB medal is awarded to the player who has received the most votes from teammates,umpires (home matches),match referees (overseas matches) and members of the media in the voting period under a 3-2-1 format. The vote system is weighted,with Test votes given a value of six,one-dayers three and T20Is two.
VOTES
Allan Border Medal
David Warner (194)
Steve Smith (193)
Pat Cummins (185)
Belinda Clark award
Ellyse Perry (161)
Alyssa Healy (153)
Jess Jonassen (87)
Men's Test player of the year
Marnus Labuschagne (25)
Steve Smith (22)
Pat Cummins (19)
Men's ODI player of the year
Aaron Finch (38)
Usman Khawaja (33)
David Warner (24)
Women's ODI player of the year
Alyssa Healy (39)
Ellyse Perry (33)
Jess Jonassen (19)
Men's T20 international player of the year
David Warner (19)
Glenn Maxwell (16)
Kane Richardson/Steve Smith (8)
Women's T20 international player of the year
Alyssa Healy (18)
Jess Jonassen/Meg Lanning (15)
Allan Border Medallist honour roll
2000:Glenn McGrath
2001:Steve Waugh
2002:Matthew Hayden
2003:Adam Gilchrist
2004:Ricky Ponting
2005:Michael Clarke
2006:Ricky Ponting
2007:Ricky Ponting
2008:Brett Lee
2009:Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke
2010:Shane Watson
2011:Shane Watson
2012:Michael Clarke
2013:Michael Clarke
2014:Mitchell Johnson
2015:Steve Smith
2016:David Warner
2017 David Warner
2018:Steve Smith
2019:Pat Cummins
2020:David Warner