"It's an important Test match for a number of reasons," Ponting acknowledged. "We want to win the Test and break the world record, but I think it's really important that the game is played the right way.

“There has been a lot of talk in the media and probably around the public over the last five or six days about the way the (Sydney) game was played, and there is some truth to it. But a lot of that was blown out of proportion. We have had a really good talk as a team a couple of days ago on issues and areas we could brush up from the last Test.

"Anil (Kumble) and I had meetings with Ranjan Madugalle about our responsibilities as captains and leaders and also our teams' responsibilities towards the game. We are happy to leave everything behind us. With India withdrawing their charge against Hogg, they have shown that they really want to move on with things as well.

“Between us as captains, we have resolved any angst there might have been between players, although I don't think there was any of that anyway."

No bad blood

Asked if there was the possibility of bad blood between the teams, he replied, "Not that I know of. If there was, all our players would have gone out of their way to see that the issues were resolved.

“I can only go by the word of Anil, where he basically promised there wasn't and I said the same back to him. You will see this game played in terrific spirit, as the Melbourne Test was and the majority of the Sydney Test was as well."

With Shaun Tait coming into the team, the Aussies will be fielding a four-pronged pace attack. Explaining the rationale behind it, Ponting said, "The wicket looks good. It's got plenty of grass on it. We picked fast bowlers because we think they would be more suited to the conditions. Tait and Lee will be our impact bowlers.

“This wicket, more than anything else, rewards what is bowled in good areas. Taity will be used in short spells to unsettle the batsmen. Through his career, he has been a wicket-taking machine, and I wouldn't be surprised if Stuart Clark has the most success on that sort of track."