Perth, Jan 17 (IANS) Australia’s diminutive explosive batsman David Warner is in line for Twenty20 captaincy and selectors will have a tough time when they sit down next week to pick the squad for the two Twenty20 internationals slated for Feb 1 and 2 after the Test series.

Shane Watson would be the other contender as Twenty20 captain if he is fit but Warner, who struck a match-winning 180 in the third Test here, has emerged the potential candidate to replace Cameron White as Australia’s Twenty20 captain.

White, in his role as captain, is part of the Twenty20 selection committee but Cricket Australia (CA) said he may opt out of any discussions about his own position.

White has had a horror run for the Melbourne Stars, with 13 runs at an average of 2.6 in six games. But his international form has been good. In his last three innings, White had scores of 39, 28 and 39 with a strike rate of 130.

Coach Mickey Arthur also endorsed Warner as a potential leader.

“Davey has leadership potential. He has the ability to lead any Australian team in any form of the game at some stage. Whether that’s in the next couple of weeks or whether that’s in a year or five years time I’m not sure,” Arthur said.

Warner is captain of the Sydney Thunder. In the only match he played in the Big Bash, Warner blazed an unbeaten century, took two brilliant catches and ran out David Hussey with a fast, flat throw from the outfield.

Thunder general manager John Dyson said Warner is an ideal candidate to lead the Twenty20 team.

“We obviously felt he had leadership capabilities, that’s why we made him captain of the Sydney Thunder and in the one game he played for us he did a very good job. It didn’t affect his batting, he fielded superbly that night and he was inspirational in his leadership. In the future he should definitely be in line for it if he continues the way he is going,” Dyson was quoted as saying by The Age.

“The way he plays T20 and the experience he has had with T20 make him an ideal candidate. He is probably the most experienced player in Australia if you add up the games he has played around the world. When he is on the field, he gives 100 per cent at all times, you see him throwing himself around in the field and guys want to join him,” he said.