David Warner      

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 then 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.

Because of his limited-overs success, Warner was never considered for Tests - until 2011, when he was first called up as an injury replacement. In his second Test, Warner did what Langer and Hayden never achieved in their careers - he carried his bat, though it was in a historic loss to New Zealand.

Promoted to the Australian one-day team two years earlier, 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. In the global Twenty20 tournament in England he scored 63 against West Indies, and followed up with 150 runs at strike-rate of 148 in the Caribbean a year later, when Australia reached the final.

He signed a three-year deal with the Blues in 2010 when there was the threat on an interstate move. Last summer he scored 89 runs in three Shield games and 195 in eight FR Cup appearances. It was again in the shortest form that he excelled and his strike-rate was an amazing 232.87 in five Twenty20 domestic fixtures, which came after he helped the Blues to the inaugural Champions League trophy in India.

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.
Brydon Coverdale