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Summary Australia are determined to get their act together for another tilt at number one ranked England.
Only months ago, one-time powerhouse Australia were wallowing fifth in the Test rankings but now they are nudging India for third spot after the 4-0 series annihilation of M.S. Dhonis men.The pain of being humiliated at home in the Ashes 12 months ago is still deeply ingrained in the Australians and they are determined to get their act together for another tilt at number one ranked England some 500 days away.Andrew Strausss England team comprehensively outplayed Australia in the 2010-11 series, inflicting an unprecedented three innings defeats on the home side to claim their second consecutive Ashes win.That prompted a major overhaul of Australian cricket and ushered in a new captain, new coach and a revamped selection panel with a view to restoring Australia to the top of world cricket.Michael Clarke, who took over as captain from Ricky Ponting last March, is at the helm of a reinvigorated team, identifying new potential Test stars, revitalising the old stagers and working hard towards becoming number one again.One-time top ranked India now shade Australia by only a decimal point in third place in the ICC Test rankings after crashing to four huge defeats in their ill-fated series Down Under.After his teams thumping 298-win in the fourth Test in Adelaide last weekend, Clarke was asked how he would rate Australias chances if they had to play England next week.Fortunately, I dont have to worry about it. I wouldnt have a clue. I look forward to playing them when we get there but right now Im just enjoying this success against India, to be honest, he said.Theres a long way to go before we have to play England and theres a lot of hard work we have to put in as a team before we even have to worry about that.Australia struggled to dismiss England regularly in the Ashes, but against India the bowlers were a revelation.Clarke, who with new coach Mickey Arthur is now part of the selection panel, said the 2010-11 debacle has fired the Australians to retrieve the Ashes in England in 2013.I think it (last summers Ashes defeat) has played a part, it certainly has for me personally, he said.We said and knew we had to do a lot of work to improve our games, both personally and as a team. Its obviously a very special feeling beating India 4-0, knowing that last summer I couldnt buy a run. Its a great feeling.Before the Ashes in 2013, Australia face the West Indies away in March-April and South Africa and Sri Lanka at home next southern summer.
