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Christchurch - Australia sealed a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand to reach the top Test ranking Wednesday but captain Steve Smith was forced to defend their aggressive style as he was fined over a row with the umpires.
The match had no sooner finished than Smith was charged over Tuesday's profanity-laced confrontation over an lbw decision that had already seen fast bowler Josh Hazlewood fined 15 percent of his match fee.
The ICC later said Smith was fined 30 percent of his match fee after he admitted showing dissent by questioning the decision that batsman Kane Williamson was not out.
"It's always special when you get to number one in the world. That's our goal as a team to be number one in the world in every format of the game," Smith said.
However Smith also had to dispute suggestions that Australia, often controversial over their uncompromising play and habit of sledging (insulting) the opposition, were cricket's bully boys.
"I don't think we're not nice guys. We play a good hard, aggressive brand of cricket," Smith said.
"For us it's about knowing where that line is and myself and Josh Hazlewood have crossed that line in this Test match and that's not what we're about.
"Hopefully we can learn from that and continue to develop as a team and get better."
