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NOTTINGHAM: Michael Hussey has said there's no denying the changes in the Australian side and reckons they are now more of a "working-class" team

than when he made his debut.

When middle-order batsman Hussey first played Test cricket for Australia in 2005, all-time greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist were mainstays of the team.

That celebrated trio have all since retired from international cricket, as have opening batsmen Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

England captain Andrew Strauss was stating a widely held view when he said earlier this season that Australia no longer had the same "aura" about them.

As if to prove the point, England went on to regain the Ashes.

However, the world champions are far from a soft touch and they go into Tuesday's fifth ODI against England at Trent Bridge with an unbeatable 4-0 lead in a seven-match series.

Nevertheless, some of Australia's 'fear factor' has gone and middle-order batsman Hussey told reporters at Trent Bridge on Monday: "I think we're more of a working-class team now.

"When I first started playing we had an unbelievable team to be involved in really," the 34-year-old Western Australia left-hander added.

"There was so much confidence, so much presence about the team and you did expect to win every single game and win it well.

"And we had so many match winners that if Hayden didn't come off, it would be Gilchrist or (Ricky) Ponting, or McGrath would get the wickets.

"It was expected and it was generally what happened most of the time.

"Being part of this team everyone has a specific job they've got to do and we all have to be doing our jobs if we're going to win and win well.

"We don't rely just on one player to make all the runs or be the match-winner. I think we've all got to chip in and do our best."

Hussey, a veteran of 42 Tests and 112 one-day internationals, said he was enjoying the experience of being a senior player.

"It's more about being myself and trying to lead by example," he explained. "I actually get on well with the younger generation, they are different but it's good as I can learn off them as well."

Hosts South Africa may be the team to beat in the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament but while the Ashes defeat saw Australia slip to fourth in the world Test rankings, they remain a highly effective outfit in 50-over cricket.

"I think we've got a lot of new faces around the squad, which has been fantastic. A lot of enthusiasm, a lot of freshness," Hussey said.

"Realistically I think we've got a lot of work to do until we can claim we're the best one-day team in the world," the man nicknamed 'Mr. Cricket' for his devotion to the game, added.

"I don't think that's where we see ourselves at the moment. We're building a team, building a new environment, a new culture almost really."