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Aussies willing to risk all for WT20

Skipper says niggles will not stop Australia putting their best XI for each match on the field as they chase elsuive World T20 title

Steve Smith says Australia are willing to risk an injured player in the ICC World T20 if the conditions and situation deem it necessary.

With each of Australia's four Super10 phase matches crucial, starting on Friday against New Zealand in Dharamshala, Smith says the best XI to suit the conditions and opposition will be picked, even if it means picking a player who is not fully fit.

WATCH: Australia train in stunning Dharamshala

"I guess it depends on their whole skill set as well," Smith told reporters Wednesday.

"If one of the spinners went down and it looked like it was a spinner’s wicket and they weren’t 100 per cent (fit), it might be that you have to risk them because it’s going to be the best thing for the team.

"But I guess it’ll depend on each individual and what’s needed for each different conditions that we play in."

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While all 15 squad members are available for selection, several of the touring party are carrying niggles or have recently returned to competitive cricket after an extended injury layoff.

Fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has made a successful return to cricket with two impressive performances in South Africa this month after missing two months with a shoulder injury over the Christmas period.

Aaron Finch was ruled out for five weeks with a torn hamstring he suffered in the KFC T20 INTL series in January, but has showed no signs of concern since coming back into the XI against the Proteas.

WATCH: Finch fires before falling to injury

Melbourne Stars allrounder John Hastings had his own injury issues this summer, dislocating his left shoulder three times prior to the start of KFC Big Bash League, and has opted against surgery to continue playing for his country in limited-overs cricket.

And allrounder James Faulkner did not play in Australia's sole warm-up match against the West Indies on Sunday with a tight hamstring, but batted, bowled and fielded yesterday, and again hit the nets on Thursday as rain threatened to cut short practice.

"I know that I’ve spoken to our physio (David Beakley) and he’s confident he (Faulkner) is going to be available for selection for this game," Smith said.

"So I think he’s pulled up pretty well. He fielded well and he’s obviously valuable with the bat as well, so I think he’ll be ok."

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Coach Darren Lehmann has made it clear players who are not 100 per cent fit will not be selected for Test cricket, but while the demand is lower in a T20 match in terms of volume, the high intensity of the game's shortest format can leave the players prone to injury.

Whether a selected player is injured or not, Smith says the entire squad will need to be able to adapt to the conditions and game scenarios on the fly.

"Being flexible for the conditions that we’re going to be faced with (is vital), and it might be playing one side here (in Dharamshala) and in Bangalore it might be completely different conditions and we might put out a completely different side," Smith said.

"So I think this tournament is going to take all 15 of us if we want to get to the end and be successful.

"And we have to be adaptable and flexible with our plans and teams that we pick."

And Smith says there is no plan A, or B, or C in T20 cricket. Instead, the 26-year-old skipper just backs his instincts.

WATCH: Smith, Warner hit out in Dharamshala

"I think it's important to trust your gut, particularly in T20 games," he said.

"When it's so short it might be the case of, even the last ball of an over, if someone is on strike that you want them to be - you know,  a left-hander you might bring on an off-spinner. Things like that.

"I think that's credit to the boys. They're pretty comfortable with all that and in 20 overs your bowlers have to be ready to bowl at any period of time because you can chop and change pretty quickly.

"It's pretty good that we're able to do that."