Brisbane, Nov 11 : New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has said that after losing comprehensively 0-2 against India in the just concluded four-match Test series, the Australians might unleash a strong backlash in order to prove a point in the ensuing two-Test series against New Zealand starting in Brisbane next week.

About Ponting's decision to apparently put Australia's over-rate ahead of winning the final Nagpur Test in India, Vettori said he didn't think his Australian counterpart acted out of selfish reasons.

Vettori believed the Australians would place more emphasis on beating their other visiting opponent South Africa this summer.

He said that Australia's series loss in India was "probably the worst thing" that could have happened for his side, as, he added, he expected Ricky Ponting's world No.1 ranked team to be desperate to prove a point.

"This is the first time I suppose that they've been beaten in a series comprehensively by an opposition side. I look at the Aussie team and think they are quite a resilient side and I'm sure they are going to bounce back and will want to answer some critics in the next couple of Test matches," foxsports quoted Vettori as saying at the SCG.

He still regarded Australia as the top nation and suggested they are still extremely tough to beat at home. "You look at the Australia team and their performances in their own county over the last few years have been almost impeccable. It's going to be difficult, I'm sure they will be hurting as a side after losing the Test series," Vettori said.

With all-rounder Jacob Oram injured, Vettori said he would promote himself to No.7 in the batting order and choose an extra bowler.

ANI