Aussies eye T20 dominance

New skipper out to keep Indians on the canvas

Last updated: 31st January 2012  

Aussies eye T20 dominance

George Bailey: Wants to keep India down

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Australia's Twenty20 captain George Bailey wants to keep a "foot on India's throat" across this week's two-match series.

The Baggy Greens whitewashed the Indians 4-0 in the recent Test series and now turn their attention to the game's shortest format, the first match taking place in Sydney on Wednesday.

Bailey, who is yet to make his international debut in any format, said: "When you're playing for your country I don't think you're going out there thinking 'we'll take it easy on them this time'.

"I think every game is about having your foot on their throat.

"We've spoken about the great energy that they (the Test team) have provided and the great start and the great feeling amongst that group and how we feel like they've set a real standard.

"And we've talked about that as a Twenty20 group as well, continuing that and allowing the one-day side to have that feeling when they get together as well.

"We don't get together as the Twenty20 group that often. Up until the World Cup in six months' time we've got six games, so every opportunity we get to hit the ground running and make a really big impression we have to take."

Expectations

Bailey, who takes over the T20 captaincy reins from Cameron White, added when asked his expectations for the team in the upcoming two-game series against India and beyond: "I think consistency's a really important word for Twenty20. I think that's the hardest thing to be as a Twenty20 team.

"The one thing I'm really excited about the group that we've got here for this week is that it's full of match-winners, but they're consistent match-winners - it's not too sporadic and it's not too hit and miss."

Meanwhile, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is confident the tourists can turn things around quickly in the shorter format.

"In England following the Test series (defeat last year), we went into the ODIs the boys performed really well... so we're not really worried and hopefully it will go our way.

"We can't really think too much ahead. We'll look to do well in (the two T20s) and then gain confidence and look to do well in the ODI series."