KEY POINTS:
Don't bother mentioning the World Cup to stand-in Australian skipper Michael Hussey.
The man entrusted with the captaincy of the Australian side for the Chappell-Hadlee series, starting at Wellington tomorrow night, yesterday spoke of the need to let go of the recent past and the immediate future, in order to concentrate fully on the next three games against New Zealand.
Hussey, deputising on this tour for Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, said it was time for Australia to start focusing on the task at hand; to attend to their own game and to uphold their standards - rather than concerning themselves with the World Cup or the tri-series loss to England.
"I'm looking at the Chappell-Hadlees as a series in its own right," Hussey said yesterday.
"We're starting a new series, a three-match series and it's a series that we want to win.
"I don't want to look too much ahead to the World Cup; I don't want to look back too much at the CB [tri] series. I just want all the guys to focus on playing as well as we can in the Chappell-Hadlees, and being successful."
Hussey, so popular in Australia that he's been dubbed "Mr Cricket" - which is a bit better than his former moniker "Brazen" - said he wasn't perturbed by the loss of most of his top-order batting line-up, nor the recent setback against England.
Apart from Gilchrist and Ponting, Andrew Symonds has been sidelined with a bicep injury and Michael Clarke is struggling with a hip complaint, leaving a skeleton crew of established players to deal with the three matches.
All-rounder Shane Watson, West Australian batsman Adam Voges and wicket-keeper/batsman Brad Haddin have been drafted into the side as replacements, with the vacant opening batting berth likely to be taken by either Watson or Hussey.
"I think we're going to be pretty dangerous, actually," said Hussey.
"The guys are very motivated to do well.
"I think losing Ricky and Adam is a big loss but we've got some newer guys who are very exciting and enthusiastic, and they'll bring a lot of energy to the team.
"We just want to focus on our team and putting things right; setting our benchmarks and standards and making sure we play to those.
"We've probably let things slip a little at the backend of the CB series, and it's pretty important for us as a team that we get out there and play well from the start of the tournament."
He said an exciting, close series wasn't necessarily something he was hoping for.
"I hope not, especially if I'm out there trying to make decisions," he said. "But we've always had a great battle with the Black Caps and I'm not expecting too much different this time around. The stakes are going to be high and I'm expecting a hotly-fought contest."
As for the surprise recall of Daryl Tuffey into the New Zealand side, Hussey said he was always wary of players who had the fortitude and determination to resurrect their international careers.
"He must have a lot of character about him. All credit to the guy."
