Aussies look to rebound

SYDNEY (AP):

Australia captain Michael Clarke says his young team leaves for its tour of Sri Lanka determined to work its way up the world Test rankings, but acknowledges it will take some time.

Clarke was among the five players in the 15-man Test squad who left Australia yesterday. The other 10 were already part of the Twenty20 or limited-overs international squads which left last month.

Australia have slipped from No. 1 to No. 5 in the world Test rankings, one place below Sri Lanka.

"I really hope we can turn things around straight away. It is going to take time for us to work our way back up the rankings,'' Clarke said at Sydney Airport.

The Australians travel to Sri Lanka for three Tests, then have a series in South Africa before hosting New Zealand and India in Test series starting in December. The Test squad contains uncapped pacemen Trent Copeland and James Pattinson, spinner Nathan Lyon and batsman Shaun Marsh, all hoping to push for places in the 11.

Australia is still No. 1 in the ODI rankings and will play five limited-overs matches in Sri Lanka, along with two Twenty20 games.

Clarke said he was optimistic the new spin duo of Lyons and Michael Beer will perform well in Sri Lankan conditions.

"It's good to have two different spinners as a bowling partnership in tandem. They can really work well together,'' said Clarke, who is yet to meet Lyons.