Durham sign David Warner for Twenty20 Cup

Durham have signed David Warner, the 22-year-old Australian opener, as their overseas player for the Twenty20 Cup in 2009. Warner made his Twenty20 international and ODI debut earlier this year, in the process becoming the first Australian player since 1877 to turn out for his country without any first-class experience.

Warner made an instant impact on his international debut, smashing 89 off 43 balls in a Twenty20 game against South Africa in Melbourne. However, the New South Wales batsman failed to sustain that success in ODIs, and was dropped mid-way through the home series against New Zealand after managing only 106 runs in six games.

"I've heard great things about Durham and I'm delighted to be joining them later this year," Warner said. "The team has done really well recently and I want to be able to play a major role in making sure that success continues. I enjoy playing Twenty20 cricket and to be brought in especially to play in the UK's domestic competition is a real honour and challenge. I can't wait."

Warner was handed an IPL contract by the Delhi Daredevils even before his big hitting caught the eye of Australia's national selectors. He will arrive at the Riverside after the IPL, which runs till May 24, and will stay for the duration of the domestic Twenty 20 Cup competition. Warner will play alongside Durham and England allrounder Paul Collingwood for Delhi in the IPL.

Warner will serve as the team's overseas player before Shivnarine Chanderpaul's international commitments end in June. "It is a real coup for us to sign someone of David's talent," David Harker, the county's chief executive, said. "His skill in the limited-overs format of the game is clear to see and his performances have really caught the attention of the cricketing world. We are delighted to have him on board and we are sure that he will be a major force in our Twenty20 side."