Australia's stand-in captain Mike Hussey is determined
the world champions will not lose their position at the top of the one-day rankings
under his leadership. 
Australia's shock tri-series finals defeat by England
and South Africa's win over Pakistan have put Hussey's side under pressure
going into the Chappell Hadlee series against New Zealand starting
at the Basin Reserve on Friday.
"We're all aware of it and we want to stay No. 1, there's no question
about that," Hussey told reporters on Thursday.
"Our main goal is playing well and winning the Chappell-Hadlee
Trophy and if we do that we remain No. 1.
"Certainly the players are aware of it and we're very
determined to remain No. 1, it's something we're very proud of." Hussey
leads an inexperienced Australian side without rested captain Ricky Ponting
and vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, the injured Andrew Symonds and
almost certainly fast bowler Brett Lee, who suffered an ankle injury
during fielding practice on Thursday.
Hussey said Australia's standards had slipped in the two tri-series
finals losses to England with the start of their World Cup defence
now just a month away.
"We probably weren't as disciplined as we normally are,
I think (coach) John Buchanan keeps a bunch of statistics and we did
fall off a little bit on the bowling and batting side of things," Hussey
said.
"There are things we didn't do as well and to a degree that was because
of the way England played and the pressure they put us under and we weren't
able to cope. I suppose it does galvanise us to a degree."
Hussey said that despite the problems he felt confident going
into the matches against New Zealand starting with a day-nighter in Wellington.
"We've still got some excellent, experienced cricketers," he said.
"We've got a wealth of depth."
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, meanwhile, defended
criticism of his leadership during the tri-series.
"Leadership and decision making is a massive part of my game," he
said. "I love the job, I love being with the team. What I find tiring is
spending weeks when you know you're copping it.
"That can be a little bit draining but it's part and parcel
of being New Zealand captain when you're not performing well. When you lose
you're torn apart."
Fleming's body language was described as flat during the tournament in Australia
and he struggled to impose himself consistently with the bat.
"In some games I'd have loved to have had another go at it, you can do
20 different things during a game," he said.
New Zealand have won only two of 22 one-day matches against
Australia since 2002 and Fleming is not expecting an easy ride against Hussey's
depleted team.
"It's an oxymoron to say there's a weak Australian side,
there's no such thing," Fleming said.
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