Australia's elite cricketers have secured their newest fan not with exploits with bat and ball, but by simply keeping their heads above water.

Three-times Olympic gold medal winner Stephanie Rice was the latest Australian champion to visit the men's fitness camp at the National Cricket Centre and the former professional swimmer was full of praise, even if it did come with a backhanded barb.

"They actually really exceeded my expectations," exclaimed Rice.

"I came in with low ones thinking that half of them couldn't swim but they were really great."

For a swimmer, Rice does a nice turn in the sort of banter for which cricketers are well known.

Despite Rice's tormenting drills, swimming plays an important role in rehab and recovery as well as cardio fitness, which is why Cricket Australia built an aquatic facility into the $29 million National Cricket Centre.

The main pool features three 25-metre lanes; one with a shallow ledge for rehab exercises, plus hot- and cold-water plunge pools.

"Swimming is a great recovery sport, it is low impact," explained Rice.

"When you're doing a lot of stuff out on the field and really high impact on the bones, it's great to get into the water and let everything relax.

"You can get that recovery of the muscles but really work hard as well. I tried to take them through something a little more intense to get them blowing, and I think it was good to do something a little bit different as well."

Rice's instruction had the players doing laps with various flotation devices to work different muscle groups, as well as a version of what could only be described as 'extreme doggy-paddling' – the cricketers were challenged to raise their arms above shoulder height and keep their upper bodies elevated out of the water only by kicking.

It may come easy to water polo players or professional swimmers, but for the cricketers it had the lifeguards looking anxious.

It achieved Rice's objectives – it was certainly different, and it left the squad breathing hard and feeling exhausted.

"I wanted to do something that put them out of their comfort zone," Rice said. Mission accomplished.

Alex Doolan, Australia's incumbent No.3 batsman, grew up in Hobart. It's fair to say he didn't have the same focus on, or access to, swimming activities in his formative years as someone like Michael Clarke, who grew up in Sydney's western suburbs.

Not given a central contract for 2014-15 at the outset, Doolan would be hoping to soon be upgraded after playing three Tests in South Africa.

More pressing for him at the NCC, however, is surviving Rice's swimming sessions.

"It was good fun, we had a lot of laughs; most of them directed at me considering my kicking takes me backwards rather than forwards," said Doolan after the session.

"For some guys like myself, it's very, very difficult. For other guys, like Steve Smith, they tend to cruise through it - he's a very good swimmer.

"I always find (swimming exercises) very difficult, but I'm finding most of the things up here difficult this week."

Difficult or not, Doolan has thrown himself into the training drills, knowing the rewards are bountiful.

Last week he was named in the Australia A squads to play two four-day games against India A in Brisbane, as well as the one-day squad to play a quad-series that will also include South Africa A and CA's National Performance Squad in Darwin.

"I've got to try and prepare best for the next challenge that comes, and mine's the Australia A tour," said Doolan.

"I'm working really hard to firstly try and get fit and then get my game in good nick ready for that."

Rice's visit followed that of Olympic weightlifter Damon Kelly, who taught the squad proper technique for his sport so they can work out more effectively.

The fitness camp continues in Brisbane for another week.