Australia has risen back to the top of world cricket to reclaim the world's No.1 Test ranking for the first time in nearly five years.
Australia captain Michael Clarke said it was a fair reward for the team's performances after a summer where they inflicted not only a 5-0 whitewash on England – just the third Ashes whitewash in history – but beat previous world No.1 side South Africa 2-1 on their home soil.
"I think it's just reward for the hard work we've put in over the past two years," Clarke told Cricket.com.au. "This team has certainly been through some tough times. There's memories stuck in my head from the criticism we copped after the Indian tour when we lost 4-0 and we were named the worst team to ever tour India.
"When things like that are said about the team as a player you take it personally but I can guarantee you as captain it breaks your heart so that's always tough to hear.
"But through tours like that and the tough times, it's allowed the players to become so strong a group and to work exceptionally hard to get this result.
"For me, as captain, No.1 was my goal. I said from day one – I think we were third or fourth when I took over from Ricky – and then I know we got to fifth after losing in India. My goal never changed, I wanted to help this team get back to being the No.1 team in the world and I know the players were exactly the same."
It is the first time Australia has been the world No.1 Test team since August 2009. Australia's ODI squad is also ranked the world's best, while the George Bailey-led Twenty20 team sits sixth.
m.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/5/1/aust...st-icc-test-rankings
