Injured T20 stars feeling fresh

The injury clouds hovering over Australia's World Twenty20 squad are starting to lift.

Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, James Faulkner and Nathan Coulter-Nile were all included in Australia's 15-man squad but all are currently battling to overcome injuries.

The squad will fly to South Africa on February 28, with selectors keen for every member to be fit by then.

Australia face the Proteas in a three-match T20 series before heading to the subcontinent, where their campaign starts against New Zealand in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala on March 18, following a warm-up match against West Indies.

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Watson's recent abdominal strain in the Pakistan Super League is minor and the veteran is fully expected to be on the plane to Johannesburg.

Former T20 captain Aaron Finch, who tweaked his hamstring at the MCG last month, has been running for several weeks.

Finch is a likely starter for Victoria in the next Sheffield Shield round that starts on February 25. 

Faulkner, also on the mend after a hamstring strain, could face Finch in next week's Shield clash between Tasmania and Victoria in Hobart.

Both players would need to be pulled out of the game early so they could depart with the squad on February 28.

Coulter-Nile, on the mend from a dislocated shoulder, has started bowling and is optimistic about his hopes of being fit enough to play Western Australia's next match against Queensland.

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John Hastings is dealing with an ongoing shoulder injury but remains confident he'll be able to play through the pain in the next two months.

"I've been strapping it to try and get away with it," Hastings told RSN radio on Thursday.

One man who won't be part of Australia's bid to win the one major piece of cricket silverware they've never lifted is Nathan Lyon.

Lyon impressed in the Big Bash League then made his T20 debut against India at the MCG last month.

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The Test offspinner failed to fire and selectors preferred Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar as their spin options in the World Cups squad.

"I haven't sat down with Rod Marsh yet. I'm disappointed but they've picked a 15-man squad who they believe will win the World Cup," Lyon told RSN.

"The T20 game is a lot more difficult than what a lot of people think. Your best ball in Test match cricket usually goes for six in Twenty20 cricket.

"You need to bowl a lot uglier ... to build pressure and go for minimal runs and try and take some wickets."