Our rise to No.1 spot will start from Sydney, says Hussey

SYDNEY - Australian batsman Mike Hussey said Saturday that his side’s rise to World No.1 Test side spot will start with the fifth and the final Ashes Test against England, starting here Sunday.

Hussey said Australian cricketers are resolved to start the arduous journey back to the mountain top in 2011 after the downfall in 2010.

“(We need) to try to start the rise again, getting back to where we want to be - getting a team together we believe in and sticking with them and hoping to build our way back up. We’d like to be number one in the world. It’s going to take time, but it can start now,” Hussey was quoted as saying by The Age.

Hussey said that a series-levelling victory in Sydney would not erase the shame of defeat, but it would certainly promote a greater sense of self-belief in the team.

“I don’t know about saving face, but we do feel it’ll be great and a real moral victory for us if we can get it back to two-all. That would give the guys a great feeling, and a lot of confidence going into the next year. But it hurts a lot, because we came in with such high expectations and belief that we could win the Ashes,” he said.

On the phase of transition in the Australian team, Hussey said: “It’s definitely different, getting to know the guys really, how they go about their game and how they prepare - trying to find out what sort of sense of humour they have and where they fit into the team dynamics in that respect,” said Hussey.

“It’s an important part, having plenty of banter in the dressing room and feeling comfortable to give Beery a bit of stick or try and find out what makes him laugh - and getting it back as well. It does take time to build a really good team.”

“I think when we find the right guys it’s important we show a lot of belief and faith in them, stick with them for a period of time - because that’s how team spirit really builds and the team can improve over a period of time,” he said.