Australians face fresh challenges to title

Refreshed and revitalised after their comprehensive Ashes win over England, Australia's cricketers are preparing for another big challenge to their status as world champions.

Steve Waugh's all-conquering players confirmed their position as world leaders in both Test and limited-overs cricket with their performances last season, but face a potentially more difficult assignment at home this summer.

Their domestic programme begins with a tricky three-Test series against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand followed by a three-Test clash against South Africa, who can overtake Australia at the top of the Test rankings with a series win.

The three teams will then square off in a month-long triangular one-day series that could provide an early clue into their chances at the 2003 World Cup.

The main interest centres around the Test series with South Africa but the Australians have been careful not to underestimate the Kiwis.

"The form the Australian team is in at the moment is probably as good as it has ever been," Australian leg spinner Shane Warne said.

"But this team won't be getting complacent and that's something we don't even talk about now because it just doesn't happen."

The series against New Zealand starts in Brisbane on Thursday, followed by Tests in Hobart (Nov 22-26) and Perth (Nov 30 - Dec 4).

WHITEWASH

Australia beat the Kiwis 3-0 when they last met in New Zealand in 2000 and everything points to another Aussie win this time.

New Zealand have not won a series for more than a year but Waugh said they were a better team than their recent record suggested.

"New Zealand play it tough and they're very competitive. They certainly say a bit out in the middle and it's good to play against those guys," Waugh said.

"We had a good series against them not long ago and they've got a lot more experience than people give them credit for. Their batsmen have been around a while and they've got some good bowlers so I expect it to be a good series."

While some teams buckle under the pressure of playing the star-studded Australians, the Kiwis have a habit of raising their game against their great rivals.

Although beaten 3-0 in their last series, the Kiwis were in a position to win at least one of those Tests but failed to take their chance.

They came to Australia earlier than scheduled after their tour of Pakistan was postponed because of security concerns and have been boosted with the return from injury of Chris Cairns, Dion Nash and Daniel Vettori, all big-match players.

"Guys have been busting their gut to get back for this tour. We want to give them a bloody good scrap," New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said.

RANKINGS TUSSLE

The series against South Africa starts in Adelaide (Dec 14-18), followed by the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (Dec 26-30) and the New Year's Test in Sydney (Jan 2-6).

Australia are currently top of the International Cricket Council's rankings but the Proteas can nose ahead if they win.

The teams, who played two epic encounters at the 1999 World Cup, are also unofficially ranked first and second in the one-day game.

Australian Cricket Board chairman Bob Merriman said South Africa posed a real threat to Australia's place at the top of the rankings.

"The form book suggests South Africa is the side closest to Australia in the current standings, so this season's match-up will go a long way to determining which country is regarded as the best in the world," Merriman said.

Mail Cricket Editor