Australia, as they do with most international tournaments, enters the ICC World Twenty20 as one of the favoured teams to lift the trophy.
 
   Optimism around Australia’s chances in the competition has been boosted by their impressive recent form in international T20 cricket.

    They have won four of the five matches they have played this season with Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand all succumbing to the Australian machine.

    The Kiwi’s are the only team to have beaten Australia in T20 cricket this year, and that was by the narrowest of victories with the Black Caps edging their foes in a super over eliminator.

    However, Australia will have to try and capture the World Twenty20 without the services of Ricky Ponting.

    Ponting retired from international T20 cricket in 2009 but his absence will scarcely be noticed by a team that is chockfull of limited-overs specialists.

   Opening batsman David Warner has only played four first-class matches but the 23-year-old has already represented his country in 13 T20 internationals and seven one-day internationals.

    Warner made one of the most devastating international debuts in recent memory when he slammed 89 off 43 balls in a T20 international against South Africa at Melbourne in 2009.

    The left-handed batsman has gone on to build on that impressive start by averaging a shade under 35 while maintaining a strike-rate of over 155 in T20 internationals.

    If Warner is expected to provide the fireworks at the top of the batting order then paceman Shaun Tait will be expected to do the same with the new ball.

    Tait, who has retired from first class cricket to concentrate on his limited overs career, recently sent down a delivery that registered 160.7km/h on the speed gun.

    It was the fastest recorded speed in Australia and has only been bettered by Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar since measurements became common.

    Tait could form part of a devastating pace trio, together with left-arm quick Dirk Nannes and, injury permitting, Lee.

    They will be backed up by the canny leg-spin of Nathan Haurtiz while all-rounder Shane Watson is a more than capable frontline bowler.

    The batting line-up is equally impressive with Warner receiving support from captain Michael Clarke and the Hussey brothers, David and Michael as well as the big-hitting duo of Brad Haddin and Cameron White.

    The Antipodeans should advance from their initial group with relative ease.

    They face a potentially tricky tie when they take on defending champions Pakistan but they should have too much firepower for Bangladesh.

    No one will want to face an in-form Australia and the bookmakers agree with Australia having been installed as the early favourites.