David Warner | Australia

Full name David Andrew Warner

Born October 27, 1986, Paddington, New South Wales

Current age 22 years 223 days

Major teams Australia, Australia Under-19s, Delhi Daredevils,New South Wales

Nickname Lloyd

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Legbreak

Height 1.70 m

Profile

A diminutive and dangerous opening batsman, David Warner exploded onto the international scene in 2008-09. His breathtaking effort of 89 from 43 balls in his Twenty20 debut against South Africa at the MCG was all the more remarkable as he was the first man to walk out for Australia before playing first-class cricket since 1877. His call-up had been a surprise and it capped off an eventful couple of months in which he also earned an IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils and a deal to use a two-sided bat. The rewards had come after he began the summer in dynamic fashion with a New South Wales one-day record of 165, and followed it with 97 from 54 balls in the FR Cup, proving his success was not a one-off. His 390 runs in that competition came at a strike-rate of 129 and an average of 55.71.

Promoted to the Australian one-day team, he struggled after a strong 69 in his second game and was dropped, but remained in the Twenty20 plans. Despite the attention of the national selectors, he could not convince the state panel that he was worthy of a Sheffield Shield debut until a late reshuffle enabled him to play the final match of the season. He picked up 42 off 48 balls in a satisfying start and then headed to South Africa as a Twenty20 specialist in Australia's squad. Shortly after he returned for the IPL and was named in the World Cup outfit.

Warner tasted state cricket for the first time in 2006-07 with two limited-overs and three Twenty20 appearances. An excellent fieldsman, Warner was used as a substitute in Australia's Test against South Africa in Perth in 2005-06. In the same season he was the leading run-scorer on the Australia Under-19 tour of India and went on to play at the Under-19 World Cup. A keen surfer, Warner completed his second year as a New South Wales rookie in 2007-08 after spending his winter at the Academy, a stint which ended early when he was sent home for general untidyness. He picked up an unbeaten 50 in his only FR Cup game that season, played four Twenty20 affairs and was promoted to a full deal following 760 grade runs at 54.29 with Easts.
Career

Warner is known for favouring the aerial route with his aggressive left-handed batting style, and ability to switch hit, using the back of his bat or by taking a right handed stance. He is an athletic fielder and also a part-time spin bowler. His bowling style is unique in that he mixes off-spin bowling with his more usual leg-spin bowling. At just 170cms Warner generates his power from strong forearms and uses his low centre of gravity to get underneath deliveries and hit them high in the air. In in a Twenty20 match for New South Wales in 2009, he hooked a six off Shaun Tait that landed on the roof of the Adelaide Oval, only a month after hooking the same bowler 20 rows back at the SCG.

Warner's break through innings for the New South Wales Blues came against Tasmania when he smashed 165* to record the highest one day score by a Blues player ever.[3] Warner later backed this up with a 54-ball 97 also against Tasmania to narrowly miss the record for the fastest ever century in Australian domestic cricket.

This introduction to the domestic scene led to Warner being included in Australia's twenty20 squad in January 2009 - effectively replacing Matthew Hayden. Warner made his international debut for Australia in a Twenty20 International against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 11 January 2009. He made an immediate impact, scoring 89 off 43 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes, including the second-fastest fifty in Twenty20 International history. Warner was just 11 runs short of becoming only the second player after Chris Gayle to score a Twenty20 International century. His 89 was the second highest score on Twenty20 international debut; and the equal fifth highest score ever in Twenty20 internationals.