NEW DELHI: Bowler Ashton Agar remarked that a sunset catamaran ride on Barbados' azure waters was the ideal way for Australia to get together before getting serious about winning the T20 World Cup.
The reigning Test and one-day global champions have had a laid-back build-up while they wait for teammates to come from the Indian Premier League. They begin their competition on Wednesday against minnows Oman.
By Saturday, every player was on deck, and spinner Agar reported that the team relaxed with a few beers while cruising the Caribbean coast.
"We're sort of sitting on the roof of the catamaran as we're coming back last night," spinner Agar told reporters.
"Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) actually mentioned, he goes, 'I don't know if many other teams would be like this where you got all the boys just sitting on the roof, watching the sun go down, having a drink together and just having a genuinely good time enjoying each other's company.'
"It was pretty easy to forget you're here for a World Cup because it's just so beautiful.
"But it's a great way to start."
Mitchell Marsh's team, who won the World Cup and Test titles in cricket last year, will attempt to make history by being the first country to hold all three of the main global trophies.
With the US co-hosting despite the sport's poor popularity there, the competition has expanded the game's boundaries.
In front of a small crowd in Dallas on Saturday, the United States began with a commanding victory over their bitter rivals, Canada, thanks to an outstanding 94 runs from Aaron Jones, a native of New York.
"Great opening game. For US, Canada to have a game like that, it's a great start to the tournament," said Agar.
"I'm pumped for those guys, I think they would have loved it and it's good for world cricket."
(With Reuters inputs)The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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