No first class status for Oz batting tyro Warner just yet

Sydney, Feb.24 (ANI): New South Wales Cricket has decided to snub batting tyro David Warner for the team's upcoming Sheffield match against Queensland, putting a question mark on his future at NSW.

The rookie blaster, who thrilled crowds after making his one-day and Twenty20 debuts for Australia this summer, still cannot get a start for the Blues' four-day side and has yet to play first-class cricket with only one game remaining after the Queensland clash this season.

He has already received a Cricket Australia contract this year.

NSW chairman of selectors Brian Taber denied that Warner had been pigeon-holed as a short-form specialist by his panel, instead citing the 22-year-old's lack of runs in the long form of the game for the NSW second XI and at grade level as reasons for his continued omission.

"Who would you leave out? If you look at Dave's Twenty20 form, he has been brilliant, but in four-day cricket in second XI and club cricket he simply hasn't done enough," Taber said.

"You've also got to remember the Australian selectors dropped him for a reason. The four-day game is a different game. We are very conscious of Dave's abilities and we're hoping that as we go along he will develop into a four-day cricketer," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Taber, as saying.

"There is another game against Western Australia following this one and we will keep discussing Dave, but at this point in time, he hasn't done enough."

Warner, who is contracted to NSW until the end of next season, has previously indicated he would seek an inter-state move if he could not get a first-class game for the Blues.

At the time, Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said that would be disappointing but the state would not stand in his way.

Warner would not comment yesterday, but has continually stated in the past that his major goal this season is to play first-class cricket.

Selectors have stuck with 22-year-old Usman Khawaja for the No.6 spot that Warner is chasing.

Khawaja and most of NSW's top order failed in their latest match against Victoria - an outright loss - but Taber said they needed "a second chance".

Khawaja hit a century at the weekend for Randwick-Petersham in grade cricket against University of NSW, while Warner scored only 23 for Eastern Suburbs against Bankstown.

Some of the others who failed in Melbourne can count themselves lucky to be in the team, which is officially released today.

Gilbert and NSW coach Matthew Mott indicated last month that Warner's best chance to make his first-class debut would come when the team lost batsmen Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich and Michael Clarke for the South Africa tour but the selectors are yet to be convinced. (ANI)