5 things to know about Australia at the World T20

SYDNEY (AP) — Five things to know about the Australia team at the World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh:

CAN WE DO IT? YES WE CAN! — Allrounder Shane Watson says Australia has the depth and balance it needs to win the World T20 title for the first time.

"This is the best squad we've ever assembled in Twenty20 cricket," said Watson, who has contested four previous world T20 events. "We've got the most balanced side I've ever been involved in. We have firepower in our batting, all the way down to No.10. We've got high-quality opening bowlers, death bowlers and spinners. We have versatility. In all conditions, against any opposition we can match up really well."

WITH YOU IN SPIRIT — Test captain Michael Clarke won't be at the World T20, but believes the squad selected will take momentum from Australia's victories in recent test series against England and South Africa. "I think the confidence the test players will take out of the (South African) series and bring into the Twenty20 team will certainly help," Clarke said. "So I'm backing the boys. I'm really confident they'll win the Twenty20 world cup."

THINKING BIG — Australia T20 captain George Bailey is one of cricket's renaissance men — proficient in all forms of the game. As such, he is able to judge how the skills of one form transfer to another and he says T20 cricket demands an instinctive approach. "If you play a lot of Twenty20 cricket there can be a tendency to fall into habits that are potentially risky in test cricket," Bailey said. "Even if I go into a match saying to myself 'don't play that shot," I'm still thinking about playing that shot. It's the same idea as saying 'don't think of an elephant.' I'm thinking of the elephant." He has guided Australia to recent T20 series wins over England and South Africa.

HOGGING THE LIMELIGHT — At 43, Brad Hogg had every reason to believe his international cricket career was over. But a big season in the domestic T20 league catapulted him into the Australian team and he's determined to take his late chance with both hands. "It's great," Hogg said. "I thought the (2012) T20 was going to be my last. It just really emphasizes that saying that you have to play every game as if it was going to be your last. If you do that you're going to have success and that's what I've been doing for the last three years."

STARC REMINDER — Most experts agree spin bowling and aggressive batting will be the keys to winning the title. Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has taken 17 wickets in T20 internationals at an average of 17.47 and he says aggressive fast bowling is a key component for any side. "It's not just about bringing about dot balls," Starc said. "Wicket balls are dot balls as well, and usually followed by a few more dot balls. I've always tried to be a very attacking bowler." Australia had a setback Sunday when paceman Mitchell Johnson was ruled out with a toe infection, and replaced by Doug Bollinger.