Alex Carey says Australia can bounce back from their one-day series defeat by England and will go into their standalone T20I at Edgbaston on Wednesday aiming to top the international T20 rankings.
Carey, who played in the final two ODIs of the series as a specialist batsmen, will take on both the wicketkeeping duties and the vice-captaincy under Aaron Finch for the match and said it was important for Australia to finish what has been a difficult tour of England tour with a win.
"Absolutely, losing 5-0 is not acceptable for the Australian cricket team," said Carey. "We don't want that result ever again. Our T20 is going really well, we're second in the world at the moment and we want to go one better. And we come up against [No.1 ranked] Pakistan in a week's time as well.
"With England playing the cricket they are, they're going to be red-hot. We've got a few new inclusions into the T20 side and I think it's just really exciting, not to start again, but to go out there and show the T20 cricket we are playing is fantastic. If we can back up the tri-series we had in New Zealand and against England, we'll be fine."
Carey started the tour as a reserve wicketkeeper behind captain Tim Paine but was brought in for the last two ODIs as an attempt to stiffen Australia's middle order. He made just six runs at Chester-le-Street but his 44 in the thrilling one-wicket loss at Old Trafford was a valuable contribution in the closest match of the series.
"It's been quite tough watching the boys in the first few games not getting the results we would have liked," said Carey. "Playing the last few games was a great experience for me, playing over in England, a one-day series against the best side in the world.
"But we didn't win. It would have been nice to get a win on the board but I think we take a lot out of it. I know I personally did sitting back watching the best side in the world go about their business, and how much work we've all got to do to lift our game to be ready this time next year."
Carey has relished the opportunity to work with Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist - who has been commentating throughout the tour - and has set some clear goals as a result.
"I want to be the best player of spin," said Carey. "We've seen through those middle overs we need to be better - it doesn't have to be scoring boundaries every ball but at least manipulating the field, being a bit more busy, and getting on top of the spin.
"I've been speaking to Punter about whatever it is that comes up. There's so much I've spoken to him about and just trying to take what works for me as well. Adam Gilchrist is over here at times and obviously JL [Justin Langer] is pretty good as well. Just taking bits from all these guys and trying to put it into my game without trying to complicate it as well."
After the loss at Old Trafford, Paine - who averaged 7.20 for the series - said he expected his tenure as ODI captain would be up for discussion. Carey's position as the stand-in ODI keeper and T20 gloveman and vice-captain puts him in prime position to cement his roles in both white-ball teams..
"First and foremost, my goal is to do my best behind the stumps and keep really well, and whatever role it is with the bat through the middle overs, play spin really well or if it's the back end, then try to close the innings," said Carey. "The off-field stuff will just come, I think. Standing behind the stumps you get to see the game unfold. If I've got nothing for Finchy on the day or if I've got something to bring in then no worries. It's a really exciting squad of guys and we've all played a fair bit of cricket against and with."