SYDNEY, Jan 31: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says Australia’s selectors have made the right decision in naming his Chennai Super Kings team-mate George Bailey to lead the national Twenty20 side.

“He’s an interesting character, he plays good cricket, he’s someone who can play his strokes, he’s very intelligent and understands the game well,” Dhoni said of Bailey on Tuesday.

“He’s a really good character to have.”

Bailey, 29, will make his international debut in any form of cricket when he leads Australia in the first of two T20 Internationals against India here on Wednesday.

“When you play, you’re just out there playing,” the Tasmania captain said. “I am debuting, but ever since I captained Tasmania, in most games I’ve gone out there whether I’m captain or not thinking like a captain.”

Bailey said his biggest challenge so far has been getting to know what his bowlers expected from him on the field.

“Mainly it’s been about getting round to the bowlers that I haven’t met as much and learning about their games, working out what they need as well,” he said.

“I’m just really excited to be here, to be leading it and hopefully continuing on the great form and the great start to the summer that Australia have had.”

Dhoni also said India’s team’s younger players were relishing the opportunity of playing against left-arm spinner Brad Hogg after the 40-year-old’s recall to the T20 squad.

“Brad’s an experienced guy and what we have seen is spinners are wily, the more they age the better they get,” Dhoni said.

“He’s also someone who has done well in the T20 locally over here so it’ll be a nice contest between the youngsters and him.”—AP