Bailey wants to lead Australia into new T20 era

Australia captain George Bailey is keen for his side to claim their first ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

Bailey and his team-mates are desperate to change their country's record in the format, since the World T20 is the only ICC title it has not held.

"It's the one trophy that we don't have in our cabinet. We are trying to rectify that. It's a bit of a process. There was a period when Australia didn't take T20 cricket as seriously as we should have. But I think that has changed. It doesn't change overnight as it takes bit of time to catch up,? Bailey said at the pre-event media conference in Colombo on Thursday.

Bailey, who only captains Australia's Twenty20 side, believes it is the hardest job of the three formats.

He said: "We usually do not get more than five or six days to spend as a group so it is hard to get consistency. Only this time we have spent 10-12 days together first playing Pakistan in the UAE and now have a couple of more practice games. It is good because we get to know each other within the group."

The other big motivating factor is Australia's position on the Reliance ICC T20 Championship table. Currently ranked ninth, Australia even slipped below Ireland on the table last week. Bailey however played down the pressure of the rankings.

"It is not somewhere we would like to be. We have not been disgraceful in this format or overwhelmed. I think T20 is the hardest format to get consistency," concluded Bailey.