Skipper declares franchise form irrelevant and backs in big stage experience of Warner, Maxwell

First time Australia skipper Mitch Marsh says he walks taller playing alongside long time teammates David Warner and Glenn Maxwell and has full confidence in them despite outside concerns.

Mitchell Marsh has dismissed concerns over David Warner and Glenn Maxwell’s form and fitness, declaring both men make him “walk taller” as Australia’s new World Cup captain.

Amid the conjecture that surrounded Jake Fraser-McGurk’s omission from the squad for the Twenty20 World Cup campaign starting in Barbados on Thursday morning (AEST), it was overlooked just how dominant and critical Warner and Maxwell were in Australia’s recent 50-over triumph in India.

Marsh and Pat Cummins have both spoken out ahead of Australia’s first match against Oman to declare franchise form is irrelevant when it comes to two proven big-moment World Cup juggernauts.

“There’s no concerns from my end,” Marsh told this masthead.

Mitch Marsh says he walks taller when batting with David Warner. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“They add so much value to our team. They’ve got a wealth of experience.

“I know myself I walk taller when I’m batting with Davey and knowing I’ve got Maxi behind me.

“They’re vitally important team members in our team.”

Cummins was just as emphatic that class is permanent when it comes to performing on the World Cup stage and a patchy IPL counts for little.

However, the big fast bowler wasn’t upset at the fact critics might have already poked the bear.

“They’re two guys who get written off a lot and always show up and prove a lot of people wrong,” Cummins said.

“I think if they were coming into their first ever tournament you’d be hoping that they’d find some form quickly. But those two guys being just about our two best ever T20 players for Australia – they’ve done it in big moments before.

“There’s no worries about them. Getting to a new country, putting on a different jersey (Australia’s) sometimes helps. I’m expecting a big tournament from those two.”

Pat Cummins declares Glenn Maxwell and David Warner two of Australia’s best ever T20 players. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Warner and Maxwell were ranked No.1 and No.13 respectively on News Corp’s recent list of Australia’s greatest ever male white ball cricketers.

At the Kensington Oval ground in Barbados, Warner has scored 157 runs at an average of 31.40 to be the most dominant Australian at the venue in T20 internationals, which generally favours slow bowlers.

Travis Head and Warner’s combination at the top of the order was decisive in last year’s ODI World Cup success, and the pair are aiming to go out all guns blazing again this tournament in a bid to add the T20 silverware to a trophy cabinet, also including the World Test Championship.

“We complement each other well. We’re both left-handed. Dave is exceptionally good against spin in the power play. We’ve had some really strong partnerships together,” Head said pre-match.

“From Davey and my perspective, we go through who they have and who we set up better against. We pick our targets on who we feel we’re a chance of against and go from there.”

Travis Head will atop the batting order alongside David Warner. Picture: Marty MELVILLE / AFP

Head said he was not intimidated the prospect of spin in the West Indies and made it clear his plan to be aggressive and take down the bowlers won’t change.

“You draw back on your experiences, (for example) … the Test stuff in India, Sri Lanka, places where it’s really spun hard and you draw back on what your strengths are and going after it can lend itself to more scoring,” Head said.

Scotland’s batsmen got off to a strong start and were 0-90 off 10 overs before rain abandoned play in their tournament opener against England played on the same Bridgetown wicket.

The weather forecast is much more positive for Australia’s clash with Oman, a team they have never faced before in international cricket.

Australia has not yet been to Kensington Oval and have practised elsewhere during the warm-up.

Although they’re yet to inspect the pitch there is a strong chance Ashton Agar could play alongside Adam Zampa as twin spinners.