Anything less than 4-0 will be disappointing: Clarke
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Australia have an unassailable lead in hand but skipper Michael Clarke says he wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than a 4-0 whitewash of India in the ongoing cricket Test series here.
Having already grabbed an unassailable 3-0 lead, Australia take on India in the final Test match at the Adelaide Oval from January 24.
"We are thinking one thing heading into the last Test against India - whitewash. Anything less than a 4-0 defeat of this powerful Indian team will be a disappointment to all of us," Clarke wrote in his column for The Daily Telegraph.
The Aussie skipper admitted that it was satisfying to clinch the series in Perth especially against a side that was ranked No 2 in the world.
"There was great satisfaction with clinching the series in Perth. It was a fine achievement to beat a side ranked second in the world when the series started," he wrote.
However, Clarke feels that neither he nor his boys can allow any slip-up as the job isn't complete yet.
"This is something all the guys can be proud of. But the job's not done. Having dragged ourselves up after a disappointing loss to New Zealand in Hobart, little more than a month ago, the last thing we want to do is stumble again. There has been too much of that in the recent past."
The skipper feels that facing India at Adelaide will be the 'toughest'.
"I expect Adelaide to be the toughest of the lot, regardless of the series scoreline. Adelaide Oval usually presents a beautiful batting wicket and it traditionally lacks the bounce and sideways movement of other pitches around the country. In short, this is likely to be the closest to home conditions India will experience on this tour, which means it is going to be tough work for our bowlers."
Clarke didn't forget to mention in his column that Australia haven't beaten India at this particular venue after the 1999-00 series.
"When India were last here four years ago the Test was drawn. And four years before that, we scored 556 in our first innings and, quite incredibly, lost the match against their powerful batting line-up. So no matter what may have happened earlier in the series, this is not going to be a walk in the park as we chase a 4-0 result."
Although he feels that all the four quick bowlers deserved to play at Adelaide but conditions make it case for offie Nathan Lyon to come into the playing XI
"There is likely to be one change to the team which won in Perth, with spinner Nathan Lyon coming back into the side," he revealed.
He expects that his bowlers will keep up the pressure that they have done throughout the series.
"One of the most pleasing aspects of our success against India in this series so far has been the ability of our bowlers to build and maintain constant pressure against such a well-credentialled batting line-up."
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