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Clarke vows no let-up as Aussies seek clean sweep

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AFP Perth
Last Updated : Dec 17 2013 | 8:43 PM IST
Captain Michael Clarke vowed there would be no let-up in the final two Tests as rampant Australia eye a 5-0 clean-sweep against England after regaining the Ashes today.
Despite registering their third big win in a row to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead, Clarke said Australia hoped to inflict even more pain when the series resumes in Melbourne.
Emphatic victories in Brisbane, Adelaide and now Perth have returned the trophy to Australia for the first time since 2007 and left old enemy England reeling.
"This is a special feeling," Clarke said of his first Ashes series win as skipper.
"You won't find one guy in the change room, player or support staff, who won't say this is the pinnacle, playing Test cricket against England.
"I am going to enjoy 3-0 for as long as I can tonight. I am going to enjoy this feeling, but I can guarantee you there won't be any complacency.

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"We will turn up in Melbourne 100 percent ready to go and be doing everything we have done in first three Test matches."
Clarke is the only player in the Australian team to have experienced an Ashes series win before, when the home team thrashed England 5-0 in 2006-2007.
However, he said the job was not complete, with Australia looking for another white-wash by winning the remaining two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
He added that Australia's aim now was to "get back that number one ranking" after a period of decline following the retirement of a number of greats.
Clarke also hailed coach Darren "Boof" Lehmann, who took over with Australia in disarray just before this year's earlier Ashes series in England.
The captain said the Australians had worked harder on their game over the last 12 months than at any other point of his career.
"Boof's been fantastic, no doubt about it," he said. "There's been a lot of people behind the scenes."
Australia named an unchanged squad of 12 players for the Melbourne Test, with Lehmann indicating he hoped to stick with the same team. "If they're fit that eleven will play," he said.

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First Published: Dec 17 2013 | 8:43 PM IST

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