Warner bats right-handed in BPL

David Warner has sprung a surprise while at the batting crease for Sylhet Sixers in the Bangladesh Premier League, switching from left to right-handed when facing Chris Gayle overnight.

Warner took guard right-handed midway through the 19th over of Sylhet’s innings against the Rangpur Rangers, with stunning results as he struck 14 runs from three balls.

The usually left-handed batsman, who was on 45 from 32 deliveries at the time, had scored two from the first ball of Gayle’s over before failing to score from the next two deliveries.

Ahead of the fourth delivery, he switched his stance and smashed a straight-drive back over Gayle’s head for six.

Warner remained right-handed for the fifth ball of the over, sweeping a full toss for four, before he pulled out a reverse sweep – which actually meant reverting to his usual left-handed approach – from the final delivery, again finding the boundary.

The Australian, who is captaining Sylhet, finished the innings unbeaten on 61 from 36 balls.

“It was one of those things at the back of my mind as I couldn't get Chris (Gayle) away because of his height and the lengths that he was bowling," Warner said at the post-match presentation of his decision to try batting right-handed.

“I play golf right-handed, so I thought I might as well come and swing and clear the ropes.

“It came off.”

Warner is playing in the Bangladesh T20 competition while he continues to serve his 12-month suspension from the national team.