Spin issues loom over batting-heavy Australia

Much like Mr Magoo, lack of Twenty20 vision has caused Australia all sorts of trouble over the years, at least when it comes to internationals. The Big Bash League is one of the format's great success stories, but Australia are yet to translate that to the international stage. Just a month ago, they had slipped to eighth in the ICC's T20 international rankings; they are now up to fifth, but by comparison, are No.1 in both Tests and ODIs. It is true that the rankings in the shortest form are especially fluid due to the limited number of games played, so note instead Australia's record at the previous five World T20s: only once have they reached the final, when they lost to England in the West Indies in 2010. Their World Cup triumph last year was their fifth in the 50-over version, but the World T20 trophy is that rarest piece of cricket silverware: something Australia have never held.

It is tempting to view T20 as something of a crapshoot in which anyone can win on any day, the long gaps between international matches preventing any sort of momentum. But Australia's selection approach to the format has not helped, either. In the early years of the World T20, they selected conservatively, and too often, based on 50-over form; in recent years, they have used BBL form as more of a guide, but have handed out caps with almost complete abandon. Since the last World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014, Australia have played only 11 T20 internationals, yet have used 37 players. 37! The only team that has come vaguely close to such a turnover in the same period is Pakistan, who have used 32 players. But they have played nearly twice as many matches as Australia. Forget pick and stick; in T20, Australia pick and flick.

Of course, the reason for that approach was to find the right group to take to India for this very tournament. The selectors hope that the proof of the pudding will be in the beating of other teams. And on paper, Australia's squad looks good. Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell - that's a pretty handy batting group to choose from. They will desperately miss the injured Mitchell Starc, though, and how their relatively inexperienced attack will contain teams in turning conditions is a big question.

Just over a month ago, Aaron Finch was Australia's T20 captain, having been appointed to replace George Bailey in late 2014. But when they settled on their World T20 squad, the selectors made the call to install Steven Smith as leader in all formats. "There has been a broader leadership transition in Test and One-Day International cricket with Michael Clarke retiring and Steve Smith assuming the captaincy in Test and one-day cricket," national selector Rod Marsh said at the time. "We think now is the right time for Steve to lead Australia in all three forms of the game as it offers us important continuity, not only ahead of the World T20, but beyond that tournament as well." T20 continuity has been lacking for Australia in recent years and Smith's captaincy credentials are well established.

That's the number of players Australia have used in T20 internationals in 2016. It is quite an extraordinary tally when you consider Australia have played only six games. But in 2015, they played only one T20, which meant that in the new year, the selectors had much sifting to do quickly in order to find their best mix ahead of the world tournament. For the record, the ten men tried in 2016 and discarded ahead of the World T20 were Shaun Tait, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Matthew Wade, Cameron Boyce, Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Travis Head, Kane Richardson and Chris Lynn.

One of the changes Australia made on the eve of this tournament was to shift Warner down the order. The presence of Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson means Australia are overburdened with opening options. During this month's series in South Africa, Warner was used at No. 3 and No. 4, and scores of 20, 77 and 33 suggested the shift did not disagree with him. "But he could open in the first game. You don't know, it just depends on the match-ups and what we like at the time," coach Darren Lehmann said after the South Africa tour. "We're going to be pretty versatile at this tournament. I think that's one of our advantages, we have batsmen that can float and move."

Speaking of versatility, Maxwell should be a key man for Australia in this tournament with bat, ball and in the field. At No. 5, he can build on the solid platform of the top order or can change the game single-handedly if the first four have stumbled. In spinning conditions, Australia will likely use him as the second spinner, and there is arguably no better fielder in what is an outstanding fielding side.

Man of the Match in the World Cup final last year, Faulkner is a player for big occasions. The absence of Starc means his left-arm variety will be important in the attack, but his striking down the order could be just as crucial. There is a reason Faulkner is renowned as one of the game's finest finishers, and no chase ever feels out of reach while his wicket remains intact.

How will they handle spin?
Both bowling spin and facing it loom as key issues for Australia, given the conditions in India. The previous World T20 in Bangladesh was a failure for Australia as they lost group matches to Pakistan, West Indies and India. They face two of those same teams again - Pakistan and India - this time around. Finch conceded after their recent loss in Durban that ego sometimes played a role in Australia's batsmen going after spinners, and they will have to curb that in order not to be spun out in India. Additionally, settling on their own preferred T20 spinners took some time. Last time in Bangladesh, the Brad Hogg-James Muirhead combination had little effect. On this occasion, Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar have been preferred over Cameron Boyce and Nathan Lyon.

In 2007 they lost a semi-final, in 2009 they failed to pass the group stage, in 2010 they lost the final to England, in 2012 they lost a semi-final to eventual champions West Indies, and in 2014 they failed again to progress past the group matches. New Zealand, Pakistan and India are all stiff competition in 2016, and Australia will need to be at the top of their game to get through the early stages this time.