Australia will have to change their ways if they are to avoid a third straight Test series defeat in Sri Lanka next month, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Friday.
Australia’s chances of qualifying for the ICC’s inaugural World Test Championship will dwindle further if they lose to the Sri Lankans.
Ranked fifth in the world, eight points behind fourth-placed Sri Lanka, Australia will slip a further five points from the top-four status required to qualify if beaten in the three-Test series.
But if they win the series, Australia will swap positions with Sri Lanka.
To gain a berth in the World Test Championship, Australia must be ranked in the top four by the cut-off date at the end of January 2013.
Australian cricket is in transition after the traumatic Ashes series loss to England at home last summer and away to India late last year.
Australia have made significant changes since those campaigns, appointing Michael Clarke as the new captain and bowling and fielding coaches in Craig McDermott and Steve Rixon respectively.
“We’ve just got to make sure we’re not doing the same things that we’re doing over the past 12 months, because we’re not getting the results,” Haddin told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I don’t think it’s so much an important tour for individuals, it’s an important tour for our group.
“We’ve had a long break from Test cricket and everyone’s champing at the bit to get back involved.
“It’s important we get over there and make sure by the time that first Test comes we’re ready to play.
“We’re uncomfortable with the position we are in the rankings and we have to play some better cricket.”
The Australians leave next week for the ODI and Twenty20 leg of the Sri Lanka tour, while the Tests start at the end of next month.
