Shane Warne suffered an injury scare in practice on Tuesday in Perth ahead of
the third Ashes Test.
Warne hurt his right elbow during fielding practice.
However, after treatment the 37-year-old appeared to recover quickly and team
bosses were quick to play down any concerns about his ability to play in the
Test at the WACA on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Adam Gilchrist has revealed Australia's determination
to win far more than just the Ashes this winter.
Australia's victories in Brisbane and Adelaide have put them in sight of regaining
the Ashes with another triumph this week, where they clinched the series after
just 11 days cricket only four years ago.
After 14 months of criticism following their shock Ashes defeat in England
in 2005, Australia could have been forgiven for resting on the laurels of another
series victory over their oldest rivals.
But vice-captain Gilchrist has revealed that Australia are setting their sights
beyond the Ashes, although he stopped short of admitting they were aiming for
a 5-0 whitewash.
"We're getting closer to achieve a goal we've set ourselves which may
not just be winning the Ashes," he explained. "The Ashes are not the
be-all and end-all to this group.
"That's not disrespecting what we're trying to achieve and what we lost
last year, that still is very much on the agenda, but there are other things
around and different things we're trying to achieve."
Asked whether he meant a series whitewash, Gilchrist stressed: "5-0 is
not something we've brought up at all.
"There are results and trophies and opportunities hopefully to celebrate
like we did the other day but it's not all about that, it's about what we're
trying to achieve as a group."
He refused to elaborate about what those goals might be, but
Australia are well aware of the target set by legendary leg-spinner Warne
for this Test, who needs just six wickets more to take his incredible tally
of Test victims to 700.
Warne has claimed six wickets at the WACA on three occasions, but has never
claimed a five-wicket haul on a ground which traditionally does not favour spin.
In recent years the wicket has changed from suiting the quicker bowlers and
is expected to provide enough encouragement for Warne to believe the landmark
is within his reach.
"I'm not sure Warney has taken more than six wickets in a Test at the
WACA, but if he hasn't I'm sure that's a burning goal in his mind," added
Gilchrist.
"Ricky Ponting always tells us to try and better
ourselves each time we train or play and you're not always going to do that,
but if you're striving to do it you're halfway there.
"Warney will have that in his mind, he will have 700 in his mind - that's
inevitable because it's one of the two or three greatest achievements ever in
the game."
Australia have yet to decide their final line-up but all-rounder
Andrew Symonds seems favourite to replace Damien Martyn, who announced
his shock retirement last Friday, rather than uncapped youngster Adam Voges.
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