Profile : David Warner

The diminutive Australian opening batsman took the world cricket by storm with a breathtaking 89 from 43 balls in his Twenty20 debut against South Africa at the MCG. While Australian captain Ricky Ponting was happy to unearth a serious talent amid a poor year for the world champions when noting went right, in another part of globe Delhi Daredevils think-tank was smiling all the way having already signed a deal with Warner for the second edition of the IPL this season. For Warner, everything came fast in his career at a whirlwind pace just like his batting. After he began the summer in splendid fashion, playing for New South Wales and making a one-day record of 165. He followed up with 97 from 54 balls in the Ford Ranger Cup that led to his call-up in the national team. He became the first man since 1877 to play for Australia before playing first-class cricket. It capped off an eventful couple of months, in which he also earned an IPL contract with Daredevils and a deal to use a two-sided bat.