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Australia focuses on record 17th-straight Test win

Australia will hope to put the acrimony of recent days behind them as they chase a world record 17th-straight Test win against India this week.

Batsman Michael Clarke said the home team were "keen as mustard" to get back on the field after the fall-out of the second Test in Sydney, which ended in claims of poor sportsmanship and racism.

"We are here preparing for what could be an unbelievable achievement -- winning 17 Test matches in a row," Clarke said.

"That is certainly our priority and that's what I want to talk about. There has been a lot of talk about what happened over the last Test match, but that's been said and done ... I know the Australians are keen as mustard to get out here and win this 17th Test match in a row," he said.

The match, starting tomorrow at Perth's WACA ground, will attract huge interest after the explosive events of Sydney, when India's Harbhajan Singh was banned for an alleged racial slur as tempers boiled over.

Australia also came under fire from their own media and public for their conduct during the game and celebrations after narrowly clinching a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.

India, angered at Harbhajan's ban and some key decisions in the match, briefly interrupted their tour until umpire Steve Bucknor was axed by the International Cricket Council.

However Clarke was confident the Perth Test would be played in a better spirit, with captains Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble both calling for clear-the-air talks.

The controversy has overshadowed Australia's achievement in matching their own 16-match Test winning streak going back to victory against South Africa at the MCG in December, 2005.

Meanwhile, Australia spinner Brad Hogg has been cleared to play in the Test after the tourists withdraw their complaint against him.

Hogg was due to face ICC match referee Mike Procter after being charged with using abusive language during the second Test.
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