Richardson feels the heat ahead of World Cup opener

Kane Richardson's first assignment at the T20 World Cup is adapting to the UAE's furnace heat.

The Australian paceman has come straight from Adelaide's mild spring and green pitches to dusty conditions and temperatures in the high 30s.

At the team's first full training session on Friday, Richardson lasted 10 deliveries in his bowling spell before he needed a drink as the temperature reached 36 degrees.

"I'm just trying to back in what I have in my kit bag and execute as best I can," he said.

"That was tough yesterday with our first hit-out - it was 2pm, so it was at its peak.

"I definitely felt it more than the guys who've been playing in the IPL.

"Some of the IPL boys were saying it's one of the cooler days they've experienced ... (they) said they had to put a jumper on."

But if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught Richardson and his teammates anything, it's adapting.

"We've learned in the last 18 months to be really agile, and Matthew Wade spoke about it – if this was our preparation two years ago, we'd probably kick and scream," he said.

"But everyone has gotten so used to it now, it's not an issue.

"Our group is so experienced, everyone has played enough cricket ... you don't lose your skill through lack of game time.

"We have a week. There's plenty of time and opportunity."

Once Richardson acclimatises to the heat, then he must do what he can to break into the Australian line-up.

They will have warm-up games against India and New Zealand before their tournament opener against South Africa on October 23 in Abu Dhabi.

Fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood's excellent IPL form surely guarantees him a start and that will make it hard for Richardson to make the team early in the tournament.

"On the surface, I would say it (local conditions) does suit myself. But whether that's enough to get picked ... spin is going to play a huge factor," he said.

"I've always said, all along, as long as I'm making the decision as hard as I can for the selectors, then if that still means I don't get picked, then so be it."

While Richardson is coming off several months of no international games, he doubts that will be a problem.

"The benefit of coming off not a lot of cricket is the opportunity to play or train, blokes are going to jump at (that)," he said.

"So if I don't start in a week's time, I will still be doing enough to be ready to play.

"I'm that keen to get outside and do stuff."

2021 Men's T20 World Cup

Australia's squad

Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams

Australia's matches

Oct 23v South Africa in Abu Dhabi (2pm local time, 9pm AEDT)

Oct 28v Qualifier A1 in Dubai (6pm local time, 1am Oct 29 AEDT)

Oct 30v England in Dubai (6pm local time, 1am Oct 31 AEDT)

Nov 4v Qualifier B2 in Dubai (2pm local time, 9pm AEDT)

Nov 6v West Indies in Abu Dhabi (2pm local time, 9pm AEDT)

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2021 ICC T20 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SQUADS FOR ALL 16 TEAMS

How the teams are grouped

Round 1

Group A: Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia

Group B: Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, Oman

Super 12s

Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, A1, B2

Group 2: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, B1, A2