The standard of the Australian cricket team has declined over the years but stand-in ODI skipper George Bailey is confident that his young brigade still has the firepower to overcome a formidable opposition like India.
"I am not sure if it has been missing for the entire two years. What we have lost is a lot of experience. We are trying to rebuild that. Guys are getting used to being in this side, being used to the scrutiny and pressure of international cricket. And to the different roles within the Australian side that they are playing," Bailey told reporters ahead of their lone T20 clash against India here on Thursday.
"The fighting spirit is still there it is just a matter of letting it out there consistently. That is what you want from your side to play really good cricket consistently," he said.
Fully aware that the team from Down Under will have to bring out their best to cope with spin-friendly conditions on the tour, Bailey said they are always evolving to combat the subcontinental art.
"It is a big focus every time we arrive here on how we are going to play the spinners and are always working towards it. It is as much about having a really clear plan. I think we have got a number of players who play spin very well. It is just the matter of executing that in the heat of the battle," the 31-year-old said.
"First and foremost that is about having a really clear plan and working through that with your partner at the middle. Summing up the situation of when and where to go. So all of those things you take into account and also the fact that India have got some quality spinners at the moment."
Touted as underdogs for the upcoming series, the Tasmanian said it is difficult to predict favourites in the shortest format of the game. "In a one-match series, it is hard to have favourites, particularly in a format like T20 where one individual over, one performance with the bat can take away the game so quickly. So if there is a favourite, then it is by a very small margin," he said.
Bailey said his side will be aggressive against comeback man Yuvraj Singh who has the potential to change the complexion of the match in India's favour. "There were a few highlights on TV last night of couple of Indian victories over Australia recently and Yuvraj was prominent in those. He is a really dangerous player and his power is the thing that you really need to be careful of. He can come in and look very casual and work you around and then just has the capacity to clear the ropes. I think, with him it is just about being really clear on your plans and try to stay really aggressive throughout his innings," he said.