Warner comes to terms with call-up

David Warner may have set the Australian domestic scene alight in the shortened versions of the game this summer, but he could hardly believe his ears when he learned of his inclusion in the national Twenty20 squad.

Warner, who is yet to make his first-class debut for New South Wales, has been named in a 13-man party for Australia's two upcoming 20-over matches against South Africa.

Having scored 343 runs in seven innings in the Ford Ranger Cup this season, the 22-year-old left-hander underlined his promise with a brilliant 65 off 35 balls against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

“When I got the phone call I was actually speechless,” Warner said. “I rang my mum and dad straight away obviously and they were very, very happy for me.

“To be honest it was such a thrill when I got that phone call and I couldn't believe it and I definitely wasn’t expecting it.

David Warner cuts loose in his eye-catching 65 off 35 balls for New South Wales in Adelaide this week

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“This is going to be a bonus to see how these professional athletes prepare - the guys you look up to - and obviously it's a big thrill for me just to be around those guys. If I get that opportunity to play I'll be speechless.”

If Warner features in the Twenty20 encounters in Melbourne on January 11 and Brisbane two days later, he promises not to alter his aggressive approach.

“I won't change my tactics,” he said. “I'll just go out there and back myself and obviously try and keep hitting the boundaries as I've been doing lately.”

Warner, who recently signed a two-year deal with IPL franchise the Delhi Daredevils, could earn the rare distinction of playing for Australia before making his first-class debut, but he insists the longer form of the game reamins important to him.

“My goal is obviously to make my debut in the Sheffield Shield by the end of the season. Hopefully that comes, but obviously I've got to score some more runs in grade cricket,” he said.

NSW coach Matthew Mott claims not to have been surprised by Warner’s inclusion.

“He's that player that everyone's craving," Mott said. “We saw it the other night - he broke the back of the run-chase and made it very easy for the middle order to set the game up.

"Those sort of guys don't come around too often, I know (Adam) Gilchrist did it for years and there are a number of players who have had a crack at it internationally.

"They're just aces in the pack that every team loves to have because not everyone can do that."