Australia's T20 skipper ready for international debut

Sydney, Jan 31: Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey, who will make his international debut on Wednesday against India, has said the extra responsibility of leading his nation isn''t affecting his preparations for the match.

The Tasmanian will play his first match as an Australian international in any form at ANZ Stadium, but believes his three years as the Tigers captain has prepared him well for taking on India.

“I haven''t thought that much about it. When you play, you''re just out there playing. I am debuting but ever since I captained Tasmania, in most games I''ve gone out there whether I''m captain or not thinking like a captain,” Bailey told reporters.

“I''m always thinking about fields or bowlers or whatnot. Once you''ve been captaining for a certain period of time that''s just how you think about the game,” he said.

Bailey, who will face off against Indian captain and Chennai Super Kings team-mate MS Dhoni in the T20, said his biggest challenge so far had been getting to know what his bowlers expected from him on the field.

“In terms of preparing it''s the same sort of thing, you''re preparing to play personally. Mainly it''s been about getting round to the bowlers that I haven''t met as much and learning about their games, working out what they need as well,” he said.

“I''m just really excited to be here, to be leading it and hopefully continuing on the great form and the great start to the summer that Australia have had,” Bailey added.