DURHAM yesterday received the not totally unexpected news that David Warner will not be available for any of their first six Twenty20 Cup games.

The Australian T20 specialist was signed purely for this competition but he has been summoned to join up immediately with Australia’s 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Championship.

It was hoped he would at least play in the home matches against Leicestershire tomorrow night and Nottinghamshire on Sunday, and after their warm-up game against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge on Monday it was felt Australia might release him for Durham’s match at Headingley the following day.

His arrival was delayed by helping Delhi Daredevils reach the semi-finals of the Indian Premier League in South Africa.

His availability for Durham will now be restricted to the second batch of four Twenty20 games, on June 23-28. They include home games against Yorkshire (24th) and Lancashire (26th).

A good deal of excitement surrounded the signing in February of the powerful left-handed opener, who exploded on to the scene with 89 off 43 balls against South Africa. He was the first Australian since 1877 to play international cricket before making his first-class debut.

Warner’s absence is a further blow to Durham following the news that Shivnarine Chanderpaul will not be available until the championship match at Headingley, starting on July 10.

After the World Twenty20 he has to return to the West Indies for four one-day internationals against India.