Australia bond in New York ahead of tri-series

Australia paid a visit to New York before heading to the Caribbean © Cricaction

It was an eventful first day on the job for Justin Langer, Australia's interim national coach. The Western Australian coach has taken the reins during Australia's tour of the Caribbean starting next week in a concerted effort to give incumbent coach Darren Lehmann a welcome respite.

Before they arrive in the Caribbean, the Australian team is enjoying a bonding trip in New York but it started disastrously for Langer, who had his credit card defrauded 22 times in different countries. After cancelling his card, Langer then had go for emergency dental surgery to remove a badly infected tooth that had him in agony. But much like his resilient batting during his 105-Test career, Langer joined the rest of the team at the New York Mets' ballpark later that night.

It culminated a surreal start to Langer's interim coaching tenure. "Today is not how I intended spending my first day in New York," Langer wrote on social media on Monday (May 30). "First I woke up to the news that my credit card had been used 22 times in other countries. Fraud. What is wrong with these crooks? Have had to cancel my card. Then I had dental surgery to remove a badly infected tooth. Shocking experience; although I am glad the pain has gone away. In for another tough night but should be back into it tomorrow. Welcome to New York."

Meanwhile, Australian batsmen Steve Smith, George Bailey and Aaron Finch had the chance for an in-depth chat with Mets hitting coach Pat Roessier. Smith said it was an opportunity to compare notes on sports that have some similarities between them. "It is a great experience to be at the game and to have the chance to watch the batting practice up close beforehand," Smith told The Daily Telegraph. "It would have been perfect to have a hit ourselves but with a series coming up we settled for just watching instead. I played some softball as a kid but didn't play any baseball. I don't follow the game closely but just seeing how different sportsmen go about their business was well worth the effort as you never stop learning.

"There's obviously a bit of crossover as cricket and baseball are both bat and ball sports but there are some different skills between the two," Smith added. "I don't think we could just walk out there and hit home runs straight away like these guys but the same would be true of the baseball batters trying to deal with the bowlers we face."

Smith said the trip to New York was a chance for the team to bond and relax before a gruelling upcoming schedule. "We've been able to use our few days in New York to assemble as a squad following time off for some and the IPL for others and it means when we get to the Caribbean we'll be over jet lag and ready to get going straight away," he said.