Warner lands at Durham early following Australia's Twenty20 exit

As he has played in only one first-class match for New South Wales, the 22-year-old left-hander is highly unlikely to feature in Durham’s two championship games prior to the second batch of four T20 matches on June 23-28.

Coach Geoff Cook said: “He is now registered as our official overseas player, but after a very good performance against Hampshire it’s unlikely we will be making any changes.

“David was signed as a specialist Twenty20 player and we had hoped he could play in a couple of games last week.

He will open the batting in the last four and if we win them all we would hope to qualify for the quarter-finals.

“He now has a chance to get to know the place and will practise with us whenever possible.”

Warner was out for a duck when Australia lost to Sri Lanka on Monday to crash out of the world event, but in seven T20 internationals he averages 34.28 and has a strike rate of 141 runs per 100 balls.

England’s survival has spared Cook the possible dilemma of being asked to fit Paul Collingwood into the team to face Lancashire at Riverside tomorrow.

Liam Plunkett needs another week to recover fully from his groin injury, while Mark Davies could make his comeback in a club match this weekend but will not be ready for first team action until early July.

Once Warner’s stint finishes on June 28 Durham will not have an overseas player until Shivnarine Chanderpaul arrives in early August.

“If we keep playing well in four-day cricket there’s no great call to bring anybody in,” said Cook. “It was a very good team effort against Hampshire.

“The whole overseas player situation is such a mess. It’s a blow that Shiv can’t come until August, but we want to stay loyal to him because he’s so keen and enthusiastic.”

Andrew Flintoff will be part of the Lancashire party that travels to Durham. The 31-year-old has been batting and bowling outdoors this week as he recovers from a knee injury and could play.