Melbourne, Jul 5 : Reclaiming the No. 1 Test ranking is far from the Australian team's mind, says national coach Tim Nielsen.
Nielsen was dubbed Teflon Tim after having his contract renewed for three years before Australia's heavy home Ashes series defeat last summer, which sent Australia to a lowly No. 5 in the Test rankings.
But Nielsen's future became clouded after Cricket Australia announced it would hold a sweeping review in the wake of the Ashes, to be completed ahead of the 2011-12 Australian international season.
Nielsen said improving team consistency - not world ranking - was the main focus ahead of next month's tour of Sri Lanka.
''We are not even thinking about No. 1,'' he said.''To get to No. 4 then No. 3 [and so on] in the Test rankings and maintain our hold on the No. 1 ranking in one-day cricket, we need our players to be as consistent as they can be.
''To prepare the team for Sri Lanka is my only worry at the moment. I am not privy to the results of the [CA] review. I have had my discussions with them and they will make their decision from that. I can't let it worry me.''
While appearing to concede Australia was ''out-coached'' in the Ashes, Nielsen admitted the public criticism had hurt.
''You don't like it, being singled out - let's be honest,'' he said. ''It is hard at times, but when we play like the Ashes you stand up and cop it on the chin, just like the players on the field.
''There was a lot of talk about being out-coached in the Ashes and it is hard to argue with that.''If it [criticism] doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.''
