Australia coming to terms with T20: Bailey

Updated September 19, 2012 11:44:44

Australia is finally coming to terms with the demands of Twenty20 cricket after failing to take the shortest form of the game seriously, World Cup captain George Bailey has said.

The four-times 50 overs World Cup champions' best performance in the T20 game has been reaching the final of the 2010 tournament against eventual winners England in the West Indies.

Australia lost that final by seven wickets.

"My personal opinion is, I think, is that it has taken a little while for Australia to take Twenty20 seriously," Bailey told reporters.

"For many years we beat teams with guys who hadn't played international cricket. We have changed that team a lot. I think we are trying to get there."

Australia plays Ireland in its opening game on Wednesday morning (AEST) and Bailey says a lengthy pre-tournament campaign has helped his side prepare.

"It's been really good the last couple of weeks just to have that time together," Bailey said.

"It's the longest that we've had this Twenty20 group together and I think we've certainly seen some benefits of that."

With youngsters Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins vying with veterans David Hussey and Clint McKay for a starting role, Bailey says there is plenty of healthy competition for places throughout the squad.

"We've seen individuals contribute, we've seen guys really starting to form some partnerships with bat and ball," he said.

"I think we've got all bases covered and I really like the mix we've got."

Australia is currently ninth in the world rankings and was recently ranked below Ireland after losing back-to-back games to Pakistan.

But Bailey says the rankings will mean little once the competition gets under way.

"I can't imagine teams will be taking it easy against us based on the fact where we are ranked and I can certainly assure you we won't be taking teams based on their rankings as well," Bailey said.

"Particularly in a World Cup, rankings go out the window. What matters is performance."

Reuters/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sri-lanka, australia

First posted September 19, 2012 11:37:28

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Bailey not fazed by lowly T20 ranking

Updated September 08, 2012 12:01:49

Australia captain George Bailey remains positive ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup despite his side slipping to tenth spot on the ICC rankings after a super-over defeat to Pakistan.

Chasing down Pakistan's 4 for 151, Australia made the same total for the loss for with tailender Pat Cummins hitting a six from the second-last ball to tie the scores then losing his wicket from the final delivery.

Australia made 11 runs in their super over and Pakistan were 0 for 10 with one ball remaining before Cummins bowled a wide and Pakistan claimed a quick single from the next delivery to notch an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Australia begins its Twenty20 World Cup campaign against Ireland the team it has now slipped behind in the rankings.

"It (a ranking of 10th) doesn't look very good. I'm still not sure how the rankings work," Bailey said.

"So Ireland go past us tonight. I'm not sure if we've ever played Ireland in a T20.

"Make of that what you will. If Ireland are a better side than us, then I guess they'll show it in a couple of weeks in Sri Lanka."

Australia showed considerable improvement on its second-lowest total ever of 89 on Wednesday in a seven-wicket defeat and Bailey says he is taking plenty of positives out of the performance.

Debutant Mitchell Starc took 1 for 17 from his four overs and looked right at home while Cummins was expensive with 1 for 37, although he bowled without luck.

Bailey, on his 30th birthday, hit a career-best 42 for Australia.

Openers David Warner (31) and Shane Watson (33) were also good contributors with the bat.

Bailey says Cummins, who took seven wickets and hit the winning runs in his Test debut in Johannesburg in November 2011, will learn a lot from his latest experience in the cut-throat world of international cricket.

"He was really keen to bowl that (extra-time) over. That's something that's really exciting from my point of view," Bailey said.

"He'll learn a lot out of that. His first four overs were outstanding.

"I gave him the wrong field to start. On another day he could have had 3-20.

"Mitchell Starc was outstanding. He and Patty Cummins are going to be two really exciting players for us in years to come but hopefully in the next few weeks as well."

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, australia

First posted September 08, 2012 12:00:49

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Bailey confident ahead of T20 opener

Updated September 05, 2012 09:24:57

Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey says his side will carry winning momentum into its series against Pakistan in Dubai following Australia's 2-1 victory in their one-day international clashes.

But the skipper is unsure how far that momentum will carry his side in the three-game Twenty20 series, which starts on at 2am tonight (AEST) in Dubai.

The series is an excellent warm-up for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka starting on September 18.

Bailey said there was a great feeling in the Aussie change rooms after their three-wicket win in game three of the ODI series on Tuesday morning and it was heartening to see key members of the Twenty20 squad show some form.

"It was nice to see Davey Warner start to hit a few boundaries, David Hussey scored some runs, Glenn Maxwell performing as well as he did under pressure," Bailey told a press conference.

"Mitchell Starc is performing well.

"As well as the team performing really well and getting the victory, for those guys to perform well for us is also a real confidence-booster.

"It was particularly nice to bounce back after the loss in game two and show some real fighting spirit last night. Our T20 team will take a lot out of that.

"I'm not sure if it flows on to the Twenty20s. If we win you could probably look back and say momentum played some part."

Bailey is keen to get some game time into new arrivals Ben Hilfenhaus, Clint McKay and fellow pace bowler Pat Cummins, as well as Watson, middle-order batsman Cameron White and Brad Hogg.

Hogg's fellow frontline spinner Xavier Doherty, who was left out of the side for the one-day series, is also a likely selection.

Bailey said slow bowling would be an important factor in the World Cup and playing against Pakistan's spin-dominated attack would be good preparation for his side.

"As difficult as it is, perhaps T20 might be able to free us up a little. We'll have to be a little more aggressive," Bailey said.

Pakistan (from): Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Sami.

Australia (from): George Bailey (capt), Shane Watson, Dan Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Cameron White, Alistair McDermott.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20

First posted September 05, 2012 09:24:57

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Draws not enough for Aussies: Bailey

Updated March 31, 2012 16:27:26

George Bailey says his Test-playing team-mates are desperate to end the tour of the Caribbean with a series win, after draws in both limited overs series.

Australia's Twenty20 skipper leaves the Caribbean with only a 1-1 draw to show from his first Twenty20 series overseas after the West Indies claimed a fighting 14-run win in the second and final clash in Barbados on Friday.

The drama-filled game means nothing could separate the two teams following five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.

And Bailey believes those staying on for the three-Test series beginning at Kensington Oval on April 7 will be doing all they can to quash the Windies' fighting spirit and come home with something definitive for their efforts.

"I know there's some boys in our one-day and Twenty20 camps who'd be pretty keen to actually win a series over here," Bailey said.

"It doesn't sit well with us to come over here and draw two series.

"They'll be keen to certainly do that and I know the energy and the freshness of the guys coming in who are just playing the Test series will be a great thing as well."

Bailey said his team had up to three key moments where they should have got on top of their opponents and gone onto victory in Friday's T20.

After conceding 100 runs inside the first 10 overs of the match, Australia hit back to claim 8-50 and restrict the Windies to 160 - a score Bailey felt was about par.

Led by David Warner's half-century, Australia were setting themselves up for a successful chase before Warner was brilliantly run-out by Dwayne Bravo for 58.

Part-time spinner Marlon Samuels (3-23) and hometown fast bowler Fidel Edwards (3-23) then derailed the chase as Australia finished 9-146.

Having secured a share of the spoils in the two limited overs formats, Windies skipper Darren Sammy was confident his team's competitiveness could continue into the five-day game.

"Two and two. One and one. I think one-all in the Test series would be a perfect outcome for the home series," he said.

"We now have the belief in the team that we can compete and win against top-ranked teams.

"We're going to carry that same mentality towards the Tests. That's what we've got to keep telling the boys, once we believe, we can achieve."

Australia will begin their preparations for the Test series with a three-day tour match against a West Indies Cricket Board president's XI in Bridgetown starting on Monday.

The game will be a crucial one for Test squad members such as Ed Cowan, Warner, Matthew Wade and James Pattinson - who are all preparing for their first Test series overseas.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted March 31, 2012 16:16:11

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Bailey replaces White as T20 skipper

Updated January 23, 2012 17:53:37

Tasmanian George Bailey is the new Australian Twenty20 captain replacing Cameron White, who has been cut from the squad to face India in two matches next month.

The other major selection shock is the return of veteran spinner Brad Hogg to international cricket.

Hogg, who is nearly 41 years of age and had retired back in 2008, revealed chief selector John Iverarity informed him of the decision early on Monday morning.

The left-armer has been in superb form for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League, a big reason for the side reaching the final of the competition.

"He woke me up at seven o'clock in the morning, the old bugger," Hogg said.

"I was pumping my fist before I answered it.

"It's great news. I hardly slept last night. It's just like being a kid again and another Christmas present under the Christmas tree."

Hogg will play his first match for Australia since his one-day farewell against India in March 2008.

Bailey, 29, who plays alongside White in the Melbourne Stars in the BBL, will lead Australia against the Indians in Sydney and Melbourne.

Bailey, who is one of five Stars players to be named, captained Australia A in the drawn tour match against New Zealand at Allan Border Field in November.

Tasmanian Tigers skipper for the one-day and Sheffield Shield competition, Bailey is a surprise selection after compiling very modest Big Bash figures.

Inverarity insisted picking Bailey was not a difficult decision for the national selection panel.

"The NSP has been discussing this squad for about six weeks and has unanimously decided on the squad, the captain and the vice-captain," Inverarity said.

"The selectors consider this to be a very well balanced squad and look forward to the team acquitting itself very well.

"The panel unanimously favoured George Bailey as captain.

"George is a very good T20 player with a sound record. He is widely respected and regarded as an outstanding captain, having had sustained success in this role.

"The NSP has the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka in September to the fore in its mind with these selections."

White scored just 55 runs at an average of eight, but Bailey only managed 114 runs at 19 himself for the tournament.

There have been a number of changes to the Australian squad which toured South Africa late last year, mostly due to injury.

Notable omissions include then vice-captain Shane Watson and young bowlers Pat Cummins and James Pattinson.

Australia play India at Sydney's Olympic stadium on February 1 with the second game two days later at the MCG.

Australian T20 Squad:
George Bailey (capt), David Warner (vice capt) Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, australia

First posted January 23, 2012 16:32:12

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