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Australia 'looking beyond Ashes' Warne fit to play in Perth Test
(about 5 hours later)
Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist says his side are already looking past the Ashes series. England's nemesis, champion leg-spinner Shane Warne, is not a fitness doubt for the Perth Test despite damaging his elbow in a fielding drill.
With Australia on the verge of regaining the urn, Gilchrist says his team-mates want to reaffirm their status as the best team in the world. Warne recovered quickly and Cricket Australia say he will be fine to play.
"We're getting closer to achieving a goal we've set ourselves which may not just be winning the Ashes," he said ahead of the third Test at the Waca. Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said Warne was keenly targeting the six more wickets needed for 700 in Tests.
Gilchrist said: "Warney's got a real spring in his step at the moment. He's quite vocal, he's vibrant and he's really energising the group."
Warne, 37, already has more wickets than any one else in Test history.
With Australia 2-0 up in the series and on the verge of regaining the urn, Gilchrist says his team-mates want to reaffirm their status as the best team in the world.
He said: "We're getting closer to achieving a goal we've set ourselves which may not just be winning the Ashes.
"The Ashes are not the be-all and end-all to this group.""The Ashes are not the be-all and end-all to this group."
The 35-year-old insisted Australia were not losing focus on the current series, despite their commanding 2-0 lead.
After the Ashes, Australia take part in the one-day international Commonwealth Bank Series against England and New Zealand with the World Cup starting in March next year.After the Ashes, Australia take part in the one-day international Commonwealth Bank Series against England and New Zealand with the World Cup starting in March next year.
"That's not disrespecting what we're trying to achieve and what we lost last year, that's still very much on the agenda," he said."That's not disrespecting what we're trying to achieve and what we lost last year, that's still very much on the agenda," he said.
"But there are other things around and different things we're trying to achieve."But there are other things around and different things we're trying to achieve.
Warne could pass the 700 wicket milestone in Perth "There are results and trophies and opportunities hopefully to celebrate like we did the other day (after the second Test)."
"There are results and trophies and opportunities hopefully to celebrate like we did the other day (after the second Test) but it's not all about that - it's about what we're trying to achieve as a group."
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.
Gilchrist said he expected legendary spinner Shane Warne to have the target of 700 Test wickets - of which he is just six short - on his mind during the match.
Warne suffered an injury scare during fielding practice on Tuesday but is expected to be cleared to play in Perth.
The 37-year-old damaged his elbow and received treatment, but he appeared to recover quickly.
Warne has claimed six wickets at the Waca on three occasions, but has never claimed a five-wicket haul on the ground.
"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.
"(Captain) 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.
"He's got a real spring in his step at the moment. He's quite vocal, he's vibrant and he's really energising the group."