Australia the hunters rather than the hunted

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, Mar 3 (Reuters) World champions Australia will approach the ninth World Cup starting in the West Indies this month as the hunters rather than the prey after losing their number one ranking to South Africa last month.

Speaking to reporters after the Australians had practised at Arnos Vale today morning, Australia middle order batsman Michael Hussey said it had been disappointing to lose the top spot to South Africa. The two teams meet in the final group A match in St Kitts on March 24.

''I guess we become the hunters rather than the hunted,'' said Hussey, who captained Australia in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting in their 3-0 loss to New Zealand last month.

''We really enjoyed being the number one side in the world and we tried harder and harder to make the gap further and further between the number one and the number two.

''We now have to try to get that number one place back, we have to try and make the gap bigger again.'' Australia play a warmup match against Zimbabwe on Monday followed by a game against England four days later before travelling to St Kitts.

Opener Matthew Hayden and all rounder Andrew Symonds will not be considered for Monday's match while they recover from a broken toe and torn left arm muscle respectively.

But Ponting and all rounder Michael Clarke played a full part in today's practice. Ponting had been suffering from a hip injury while Clarke had a sore back.

Hayden walked briskly around the outfield several times and Symonds had a few gentle throwdowns in the nets with a tennis ball.

Hussey said Australia had put the New Zealand defeats behind them and were ready for the challenge of the biggest World Cup yet.

''The Australian team is so meticulous about their preparation,'' he said. ''They are an experienced side who know their own game so well and what they need to do.'' As the Australians warmed up on the outfield to the roar of aircraft taking and landing at E T Joshua airport, the pilot and passengers of a single-propeller light aircraft had a narrow escape when the plane crashed upside down into a stream only 200 metres away from the stadium. Eyewitnesses said the pilot and three passengers, who were taken to hospital, had been shaken but unhurt.

REUTERS SY RAI2219