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Australia prepare for main T20 event

Team wants to build confidence and rhythm during two warm-ups for the World Twenty20

Cricinfo staff
31-May-2009
Brad Haddin wants Australia to build confidence and rhythm during their two warm-ups for the World Twenty20, starting with a hit-out against Bangladesh on Monday. Haddin has led the team twice this year but hands over to Ricky Ponting for the two-week tournament that begins for Australia at The Oval on Saturday.
Despite the squad's traditional strength in the Test and one-day formats, the team is less certain in the shortest genre and it will be important to fine-tune against Bangladesh and New Zealand over the next two days. "The energy the guys have shown and enthusiasm has been quite good, so we're actually looking forward to getting our teeth into the game," Haddin told AAP.
"With these games you want to get out of it as an individual what you can so you go into the first world game with some confidence and a bit of rhythm under your belt. We haven't won this tournament before so we're pretty keen to make our mark ... it's obviously one piece of silverware we don't have."
Australia have lost three of their six Twenty20 games this year, but Haddin said the beauty of the format was there was "no real form guide". "Any team on a given day can make a mark in the competition because it only takes five overs to turn the game in your favour," he said. "There's no stand-out favourites, so I think it will be an enjoyable tournament and it will be very good viewing for the fans."