I can understand this decision, as a must outright win game for the Blues it’s hardly the time to be blooding new openers… but if the story is true then they could have at least picked him in their second XI squad!

At least Warner’s useful in the field and will make a top notch 12th man, he’s got International experience after all.

Best of all, the papers can re-run their stories about his not even having a 1st class cap. Can’t wait.

Curiously the selectors have waited for his form to wane before selecting him, in this years (victorious!) Twenty20 campaign he scored 62 at 12.4 and took 3 wickets at 40.33. His one innings of note was 42 off 25 when he opened against Tasmania.

• v QLD – 3(4) and 4 overs 2/26

• v WA – 9*(5) and 2 overs 0/14
• v SA – 6(6) and 3 overs 0/27
• v TAS – 42(25) and 2 overs 1/24
• v VIC – 1(4) and DNB
• v VIC – 1(9) and 3 overs 1/30

Whatever, he’s made the cut and I fully support the inclusion of more young players from Australia’s best domestic Twenty20 team. An added bonus is his name is so similar to my own that it’s almost as if I’m playing for Australia, just look for the drunk, overweight and unfit guy (no, not Jesse Ryder) on Sunday.

Aussie Squad for Twenty20 on Sunday

Michael Clarke (c) – NSW , 27
Brad Haddin (vc) – NSW , 31
Nathan Bracken – NSW , 31
Callum Ferguson – SA , 24
Moises Henriques – NSW , 22
Ben Hilfenhaus – TAS , 25
James Hopes – QLD , 30
David Hussey – VIC , 31
Mitchell Johnson – WA , 27
Peter Siddle – VIC , 24
Adam Voges – WA , 29
David Warner – NSW , 22
Cameron White – VIC , 25

Hussey and Ponting have been “rested”, I suspect Rick’s never played a T20 against New Zealand.

They’ve name a 13 man squad, which is a bit rude for the one discarded player who’ll also miss this round of the Sheffield Shield. Hopefully they’ll give him a bucket to collect donations.

Man Cry

The Victorians are píssed off, as having their top players unavailable due to national service is a new problem for them. Now they’ll have to go without the services of Cameron White and David Hussey, who have a ODI on Friday and need their beauty sleep. There is no factual basis to reports that Cameron White Cried, again, at hearing the news, though it does sound likely.

Ryan Harris has been dropped from the national squad so will be available for Queensland, however they’ve replaced him with Mitchell Johnson so that’s probably worse for the New Texas Bulls, who’ll also be missing James Hopes.

CA have also denied requests for the players to be available of for the final, so NSW will be missing David Warner, Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin and Nathan Hauritz.

This could well end up a good experience, as Michael Hussey is keen to explain IPL loyalties come before the state that bought you up, so depending on which IPL teams make the club championship any Australian side could be without their stars when the big bucks are on offer.

Victoria squad: Brad Hodge (capt), Aiden Blizzard, Rob Quiney, Aaron Finch, Andrew McDonald, Matthew Wade, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Damien Wright, Shane Harwood, Jon Holland, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes.

Queensland squad: Chris Simpson (capt), Wade Townsend, Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Nathan Reardon, Glen Batticciotto, Craig Philipson, Chris Hartley (wk), Ryan Harris, Nathan Rimmington, Ben Cutting, Alister McDermott, Ben Laughlin.

David Warner

This fucking rocks! David Warner, what a superb debut. There was only one Australian who didn’t enjoy that innings last night, and with 89 off 43 balls it’d be pretty tough for the selectors to not add Dave to the ODI squad now, as I suggested over at Well Pitched on Friday.

The highlight for me was his first ball facing Dale Steyn, knowing this guy is rated as the best quick on earth so he paddles a six over fine leg. Next ball, now that he’s got his eye in, he tonks him over mid wicket for another 6!

Warner faced just 1/4 of the balls bowled to Australia to score 1/2 the runs, this in a team of his childhood heros who he wanted to get autographs from in the changerooms.

Well that’s enough gloating for now, I can’t wait till the second T20 on Tuesday in Brisbane – one scary thought for South Africans is the ball that Warner was eventually caught off in Melbourne at deep long on would have gone for another 6 at the Gabba!

One thing that could be interesting later this year is the IPL as Dave has signed with the Delhi Daredevils and will open the batting with Virender Sehwag – hopefully Sehwag can teach him some restraint!

I’m getting very excited by the prospect of seeing David Warner take on Steyn and Morkel come Sunday night, hopefully this bástardised version of cricket lives up to excitement from the Test Series.

Oh, and reformed chucker Johan Botha’s been named captain of the Saffas. One must wonder wtf Boucher did to piss off the hierachy…

Shot Dave

Not to say Dave hasn’t earnt this selection, his form in the shorter versions of he game is undeniable.

In late November he broke the NSW One Day record in 34.1 overs by hitting 165* (112) That innings included 19 fours and 9 sixes against the (then) table topping Tasmanian attack. One can only speculate how many he would have scored had we batted first!

This week he took apart a South Australian attack that included a devastating Shaun Tait and Pakistani import Sohail Tanvir with 65(35). He did have some luck, playing on to be bowled by Tait off a no-ball then smashing the free hit over mid-on for one of his 7 fours. Of the 4 sixes Dave hit the highlight was a Tait delivery which he dispatched onto the roof of the Adelaide Oval!

He started the match with that stupid double sided T20 specialist bat, then changed it after a few overs for a real lump of willow.

He’s also a handy slow bowling option, capable of ripping leggies and tight offies depending on his mood. So congrats on the selection Dave, and it’s good to see we are still breeding the big names.