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Spinner Ashton Agar is relishing bowling in the powerplay, a tactic Australia are likely to employ at the Twenty20 World Cup.
Ashton Agar has embraced the unique pressure that comes with taking the new ball as he seeks a spin-friendly path to the Twenty20 World Cup.
Australia are weighing up whether to unleash Agar alongside fellow tweakers Adam Zampa and Mitch Swepson in their T20 series opener against West Indies on Saturday morning (AEST).
Tanveer Sangha, the uncapped 19-year-old legspinner, is also part of Australia's enlarged touring party in St Lucia.
Spin is set to play a huge part of Australia's bid to win the T20 World Cup in October-November.
Aaron Finch's side are playing five T20s in the Caribbean then five T20s in Bangladesh as part of their preparation for the tournament in the UAE, with the skipper expecting similar conditions to that on offer at the World Cup.
It is not unusual for tweakers to curb the run-rate after a T20 powerplay, when they have the luxury of dropping the field back.
It is more uncommon for spin to be employed in the opening six overs, when the only protection is two fielders on the rope.
But recent evidence, both earlier this year and in this week's intra-squad clash, indicates Agar could be called on to set the tone with the ball.
"I quite like doing it because it means my game is growing," Agar said.
"We did that quite a bit in New Zealand and it was pretty successful.
"Growing a bit more confident in that role. You have to be realistic, some days it will work really well and others they will get on top of you."
Agar, Zampa, Swepson and Sangha have spoken about the rare opportunity in front of them during coming months.
"Hopefully the wickets are spin friendly. It's T20 cricket, you're not always going to get raging turners or ones that go underground," Agar said.
"Generally around the world, they're pretty flat.
"But in the subcontinent or the West Indies, history shows they might be a bit more friendly."
Agar is also relishing the chance to tour alongside younger brother Wes.
"We love each other a lot and it's nice to spend time with him, let alone be on an Australian cricket tour," he said.
