Australia better Test team than their ranking: Hussey

SYDNEY - Australian Michael Hussey has questioned the veracity of International Cricket Council’s Test rankings, saying that his team is better than the current ranking of fifth.

Hussey said the rankings are not a true reflection of the Australia’s performance.

Australia have slipped to an all-time low of fifth place in the ICC Test rankings following a 2-0 series loss to India recently.

“I don’t think we’re the fifth-best team in the world. I don’t think that’s a true reflection of our team — we’re definitely better than that,” Hussey was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday.

The middle-order batsman suggested that the new Test championship, which is set to come into effect in 2013, would be a better parameter to judge teams.

“With the new Test championship coming in, that will probably give a better indication of where teams stand, and a better understanding of where teams are ranked.

“We need to get up to make sure we’re fourth to get into that,” Hussey said. “We’ve got a couple of years to continue the curve of getting better every time. I think our team is getting better all the time.”

Hussey believes his team has the players and the ability to play excellent Test cricket in the coming months.

“I have a strong belief in the personnel we’ve got, and the plans and processes we’ve put in place, that if we stick to what we know and don’t get affected too much by the outside influences, I firmly believe we’ve got a great chance to play some excellent Test cricket in the next year,” said Hussey, who has been going through a bad patch in the series.

The 35-year-old scored 17, 28, 34 and 20 in four innings in the two Tests in India.