Australia's answer to NZ spinners...heavier bats

Steven Smith, Shane Watson, and James Faulkner have shelved their normal blades and sought a heftier piece of willow for the World T20. Photo / AP

Australia's run-scoring arsenal have upgraded to heavier bats for the World Twenty20 in a bid to send New Zealand's spin-heavy attack over the fences in Friday's crucial clash in Dharamsala.

Shane Watson, Steven Smith and James Faulkner are among the key men to have shelved their normal blades and sought a heftier piece of willow for the tournament.

Heavier bats are not uncommon in T20 cricket, however the slow, low conditions on Indian soil have only enhanced the demand for more powerful weapons among the Australian dressing room.

The Black Caps' decision to go with three spinners in Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi and Nathan McCullum for their first match, should ensure Australia will have to generate their own muscle if they're to hit boundaries.

David Warner's potent Kaboom bat is unchanged from one-day and test cricket, although occasionally he will use a lighter bat depending on the ground.

Other teammates though have requested deluxe models from their manufacturers that have the middle placed lower down in the bat to compensate for the lower bounce.

"I know some guys like Steve Smith and Jimmy Faulkner and a lot of the other guys play with the weight a little bit, especially coming into Twenty20 cricket when you've got a good block of Twenty20 (matches)," Watson said.

"But everyone is a little bit different.

"I definitely (like it), especially coming to Indian conditions as well where the wickets at times can be a bit slower and a bit lower.

Having a slightly heavier bat and the wood a little bit lower (in the bat) as well comparatively to what it would be in Australia or South Africa (where wickets are bouncier).

"It's more making sure I give myself the best chance (in these conditions)."

Watson's bat is only an ounce or two heavier than his norm, however he said every bit counts in Twenty20 cricket.

"They are a little bit heavier so when you swing hard, which you have to in Twenty20 cricket, even if I'm unfortunate enough that I don't totally get it, there's still a chance of it still going over the fence, especially in smaller grounds.

"You need a little bit more behind your swing to be able to hopefully clear the fence."

Steve Smith at No. 3 doesn't possess the natural raw-boned power game of some of his teammates, but says he has techniques for still hitting sixes in Twenty20 cricket.

"I try and get as strong as I can. For me, hitting sixes is about trying to keep my shape as much as possible," he said.

"When I try to hit the ball too hard I probably lose a lot of that and probably bring myself down there. For me, it's about making sure my shapes are good in my stroke play and if I hit the ball out of the middle then it's generally going to go."

- news.com.au