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David Warner and 18-year-old speedster Pat Cummins could provide the fireworks Australia need to win their Twenty20 series in South Africa according to skipper Cameron White.
White claims Warner, who scored two unbeaten centuries for NSW in the T20 Champions League in India, will benefit from having match competition ahead of the two-game T20 series which starts in Cape Town on Friday morning.
And White says he can’t wait to see Cummins in the flesh after the youngster took 4-45 for the Blues in last week’s semi-final loss to Bangalore.
“The standout’s probably David Warner,” White told a press conference in Cape Town.
“He’s had some good success against the Proteas before, one memorable game at the MCG a couple of years ago (89 off 43 balls on debut at the MCG in January 2009).
“He’s one of many dangerous batsmen that we have.
“That’s a good thing, coming off a real match and hardened competition.”
White says he watched the uncapped Cummins in action in the Champions League and couldn’t take his eyes off the explosive paceman.
“It’s pretty exciting. I saw him play a couple of games on tv,” White said.
“Anyone who bowls at 150 (km/h), it’s really good to watch.
“Those type of players, they keep you really interested in the game.
“You do get a bit excited.
“I actually haven’t played with Pat before. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the flesh and out on the ground.
“Clearly he’s got some very, very good pace.
“I haven’t seen a lot of Pat yet but what I’ve seen has been very impressive.
“He seems to be bowling quite fast and he’s got good control.”
White is confident his side can improve on their 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka two months ago.
The 28-year-old Victorian must overcome the disappointment of being omitted from Australia’s squad for the three-match series of one-dayers against South Africa which starts on October 19.
“It’s just the way it is,” White said.
“It’s only a short stay.
“We think we’ll be very competitive.
“We’re improving and getting better all the time. We’ve got a very strong side.
“We’re coming off a winter back in Australia, some of the other guys that have come from home haven’t played much.
“Although you’d like to be together for longer in the lead-up, at least most of the guys have had some Twenty20 cricket and I think that’s better preparation than just nets and coming off an Australian winter.”
The Proteas are resting Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis and AB De Villiers is out with a finger injury.
“There’s no doubt that they’re a great side and they’ll be very tough to beat,” White said.
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