The only way is up for Hussey

A 2-0 defeat to India saw Australia slip to fifth in the Test rankings, but Mike Hussey insisted: "We're definitely better than that"

Mike Hussey has insisted Australia’s Test ranking is not a true reflection of their quality.

Australia have slipped to an all-time low of fifth in the ICC Test rankings, a position they will begin the Ashes in, following a 2-0 series loss to India.

Hussey, speaking in Visakhapatnam ahead of Wednesday’s second one-day international there, said: “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.”

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

He said: “With the new Test championship coming in, that will probably give a better indication of where teams are at, 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.”

He added: “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.”

Hussey has attracted criticism for poor form, with the 35-year-old just managing scores of 17, 28, 34 and 20 in the India Tests.

However, he said: "I don't feel the talk, I've always made a conscious decision to not take much notice of what goes on outside the team. I don't read a hell of a lot of press, I don't watch the TV that much."

He added that if players like Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh deliver later into their careers, he could too.

Hussey, who has amassed 4,080 Test runs, told the Sydney Morning Herald: “I must admit, last summer I found it a lot harder to get away from that because there seemed like a lot of speculation.

“But certainly watching guys like Sachin Tendulkar play so well at 37, Steve Waugh played very well later in his career, Matthew Hayden played brilliantly, Justin Langer - there's so much evidence of players playing very well, well past 35.

“I can take a lot of confidence from that, I feel like I'm playing well inside myself. Particularly in the last three matches I've been a bit unlucky, but that's the game.

“You've got to keep positive and keep trusting what works for you, and for me if I put too much pressure on myself or try too hard and worry too much about what's going on outside, I don't perform well.”