Cricket: Cricket-Australia cruising ahead of T20 World Cup opener

(Reuters) – A sunset catamaran cruise on the blue waters of Barbados was the perfect way for Australia to bond before knuckling down to the business of winning the T20 World Cup, bowler Ashton Agar said.

The test and one-day world champions launch their tournament against minnows Oman on Wednesday and have enjoyed a relaxed buildup while waiting for team mates to arrive from the Indian Premier League.

With all players on deck by Saturday, the squad freshened up with a few drinks while sailing the Caribbean coastline, spinner Agar said.

“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 will bid to become the first nation to hold all three of cricket’s major global trophies, having taken the test and one-day World Cup titles last year.

The tournament has taken the game to fresh pastures, with the United States co-hosting despite the sport’s low profile in the country.

The U.S. started with a big win over North American rivals Canada in front of a few thousand fans in Dallas on Saturday, with New York-born Aaron Jones blasting an unbeaten 94.

“Great opening game. For U.S., 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.”

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)