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Australia “blow out the cobwebs” ahead of T20 World Cup

Durban was recently ranked the largest ‘Indian’ city outside India.

Mar 03, 2016, updated Mar 03, 2016
After ascending the pinnacle of Test cricket, Australia have a short turnaround to back up for the T20 World Cup. Photo: Dave Hunt, AAP.

After ascending the pinnacle of Test cricket, Australia have a short turnaround to back up for the T20 World Cup. Photo: Dave Hunt, AAP.

Unfortunately for Australia’s cricket team that Indian government report relates to the South African city’s population demographic rather than the state of the Kingsmead pitch.

The coastal city is somewhat of an unlikely setting as Australia start their final preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Australia launch their World Cup campaign on March 18 in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala.

Steve Smith’s men have a single warm-up game in India prior to their Cup opener against New Zealand.

Instead they’re banking on a three-match T20 series in South Africa, which starts at 2.30am ACDT on Saturday, to serve as a tune-up for the tournament.

Captain Smith and coach Darren Lehmann both publicly outlined their hopes for spin-friendly decks at Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Proteas coach Russell Domingo countered that it’s unlikely to happen but Australian wicketkeeper Peter Nevill took heart from what he saw at training on Wednesday.

“The wickets here – actually in the practice nets there’s quite a bit of turn there,” Nevill said.

“So that’s something you can use as well but the focus at the moment is this T20 series against South Africa.”

Stifling humidity is also providing a small taste of what is to come in the subcontinent.

“It’s nice and steamy over here, which I suppose will be good preparation for down the line as well,” Nevill said.

“Everyone’s blown the cobwebs out by now. We’ve had a few days to acclimatise.”

Smith has already flagged the likelihood of all 15 squad members having a chance to shine at some point in the upcoming three-game series.

The biggest question is at the top of the order.

Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson and Aaron Finch all have strong claims to open the batting alongside David Warner.

Former T20 skipper Finch could be squeezed out of the XI entirely.

Nevill will make his T20 debut in the sold-out series opener at Durban, where Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar are also in the mix to debut.

Both sides are unsure about their best XI, with the Proteas rejigging their pace attack following spearhead Dale Steyn’s return to fitness.

“Dale has been phenomenal for us over a long period of time now,” right-armer Kyle Abbott said.

“He has played a lot of cricket in India, a lot of cricket against the Aussies.

“To have him around again always brings a smile to our faces.”

Nevill tipped it would be a hard-fought series.

“They’re an outstanding team .. they’ve got some wonderful T20 players,” he said.

AUSTRALIA’S PATH TO T20 WORLD CUP OPENER

March 4: clash with South Africa in Durban

March 6: clash with South Africa in Johannesburg

March 9: clash with South Africa in Cape Town

March 13: clash with West Indies in Kolkata.

-AAP

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