SYDNEY, Jan 30: 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 Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 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 top-ranked England some 500 days away.

Andrew Strauss’s 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 No 1 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 team’s thumping 298-win in the fourth Test in Adelaide last weekend, Clarke was asked how he would rate Australia’s chances if they had to play England next week.

“Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about it. I wouldn’t have a clue. I look forward to playing them when we get there but right now I’m just enjoying this success against India, to be honest,” he said.

Under the influence of new bowling coach Craig McDermott, Ashes flops Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle were far and away the top bowlers of the India series, with 27 and 23 wickets respectively, while youngster James Pattinson took 11 wickets in two Tests before injury.

Pattinson has been fast-tracked into the Test side along with teenage speed merchant Patrick Cummins, who put in a man-of-the-match performance on debut against world No 2 South Africa in November, before suffering a foot injury.

After an Ashes series where Australia struggled to build a solid platform at the top of the innings, Twenty20 specialist David Warner has exploded on to the Test scene with two thumping centuries in his first five Tests as opener.

Ed Cowan replaced the technically-flawed Philip Hughes in the other opening slot and averaged 34.33 with two half-centuries in the India series, while 162-Test veteran Ponting has enjoyed a sparkling return to form.

“We sit fourth on the ICC rankings. Right now we’re not the No 1 Test team in the world so it’s about us trying to become better every single match,” Clarke said.

“We will continue like we have done my whole career to look at other teams and see their strengths and weaknesses and see where we can improve.” —AFP