DAVID WARNER

I don't think there's a connection but in case you're wondering, David Warner is the 22 year old Australian who is playing his first international match for Australia as I write.

Warner has created waves in the current domestic season in Australia with his awesome hitting, which eventually led to his elevation to Australia's T20 squad for the match against South Africa.

"I'm going to be in the same dressing room with the guys I've looked up to all my life. Just to be next to them is going to be very, very special and I might actually ask for some autographs."

Thats what Warner said when he heard of his selection.

After his 89 off 43 deliveries today, Ponting & Co. might be asking for his autograph!

Six 6s and Seven 4s.

He was up against Ntini, Steyn, the other Morkel, Kallis. Even Botha!

This is what he did to Steyn:

5.2 Steyn to Warner, SIX, what a shot! That was bowled at 149.8 kmh and Warner merely turned around and helped the ball over the fine-leg boundary with an audacious paddle shot, fine leg was in the circle, Steyn can't believe it

5.3 Steyn to Warner, SIX, 52 off 19 balls! Warner gets there by charging and pulling the short ball high and far over deep midwicket, this guy has awesome hand-eye co-ordination, and terrific bat speed

Warner missed the chance of becoming the first man to score a ton on his T20 debut, but his 89 put him second on the list of highest scorers on T20 debut, only behind his captain.

And his 50 off 19 deliveries is the second fastest 50 in 20-20 internationals.

Those are not his only achievements this season as Moses and Jrod would tell you.

According to Moses, Warner's unbeaten 165 off a mere 112 deliveries against Tasmania is the highest score by New South Wales batsman in history. He batted only 34.1 overs for that!

If Jrod is to be believed, Warner is the first non Indian without first class experience to be recruited by an IPL franchise.

I believe Jrod. Warner has signed up with the Delhi Daredevils.

Can you just imagine a top order that reads:

1. Sehwag
2. Gambhir
3. Warner

!!!

All of 22, second highest score on international 20-20 debut, second fastest 50 in T20Is, highest One Day score for his state team, and the first non Indian without first class experience to sign with the IPL.

And this is just the start!

Forget the part where South Africa chased down 414 runs on the final day of a test.

Forget the part that it was against Australia.

Forget the part that is was the 2nd highest chase ever to win a test match.

This match had way more shock waves in store than any shock treatment being dished out at an asylum!

How shocked I am from the happenings at Perth can be guaged from the fact that my fantasy team is dangling at 15th in Jrod's Cricinfo league!

Before I go on I would like to take a pause and be the first to admit to Damith - buddy I was wrong.

Way wrong.

Now on to the shockers.

Ponting's first ball duck.

If you say you expected it, I'll put my last dollar that no one expected a quack from Hussey.

Australia 15-3. Well maybe not as shocking but still, 15-3!

Krejza holding the fort and rallying the tail around him to lead the Aussies to 375. I had no idea he could bat. And he did it again in the 2nd innings.

Kallis got his 63 faster than De Villiers. Who would have thought.

Johnson picked up 8 wickets. Not in the match, in the bloody innings.

South Africa's 281 was probably the only thing I expected in this match.

Hussey failing for the 2nd time in the match.

Haddin, confident after a century against the Kiwis, smashed 46 in the 1st innings. I didn't think he could continue the good form but then came the beatious 94. Gilchrist sir, you have been replaced.

Shocking!

Harris picked up 2 wickets more than Steyn, not shocking till you read that it was at Perth!

Brett Lee's match haul of 1-132. Yes sir, at Perth!

Smith's 100.

De Villier's unbeaten 100.

Kallis' 2 fifties!

Duminy's 50. A debutant!

Craziness!

This was Australia they were up agianst damn it.

414?

This wasn't happening.

Chokers did someone say?

Why didn't they choke?

For once the South African batsmen lived up to their hype and Kallis found the perfect match to get back into some batting form.

I still can't believe it.

That is how many Graeme Smith requires this year to over haul Mohammad Yousuf's 1,788 in 2006.

Smith just mauled the Bangaldeshi boys for 157 in the just concluded test.

He has another test against them starting in 3 days.

Following that, Smith plays another 2 test matches against the Aussies before the year comes to a close.

A maximum of 6 innings and a probable of 5 to score 452 - can he do it?

Considering his form against Bangladesh this year he can probably get half of those in his next innings.

Besides the Bangladeshis, Smith has scored his 1,336 runs this year against West Indies, India, and England. Its taken him 12 test matches and 20 innings to get there.

Yousuf got his 1,788 against India, Sri Lanka, England, and the West Indies in 11 tests and 19 innings.

Viv Richards, who held the record for 3 years before Yousuf got past it, got his 1,710 against India, England, and Australia in 11 tests and 19 tests.

So atleast we have established that Smith is no where near the class of Richards or Yousuf.

But we have also established that if you want a crack at the record, make sure you get to play tests against India and England during the same year!