All-conquering Australians arrive in India

BOMBAY - Australia arrived in India today with captain Steve Waugh determined to extend his side's record of 15 consecutive Test wins.

"Winning is a habit with us. We will try to do that in India," Waugh said after the team reached Bombay for a tour which includes three Tests and five one-day internationals.

"We will play aggressively, the way we always play," he added. Australia has not won a Test series in India since Bill Lawry led his team to a 3-1 win in 1969.

Waugh has said his side could claim to be one of the best teams in history only by winning the Indian series, a feat achieved by only one team, South Africa, in the past 13 years.

India will be unable to call on leg spinner Anil Kumble who has been ruled out after shoulder surgery last month.

Waugh said he would be sorely missed by India. "He is a great bowler, a calm cricketer and tough to score against."

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist gave a vote of confidence to leg spinner Shane Warne who is aiming to wipe out memories of being battered into submission by Sachin Tendulkar during the 1997-98 series in India.

Tendulkar scored 446 runs in five innings for an average of 111.50.

"Shane wasn't 100 percent fit last time. This time he's come in fresh," Gilchrist said.

Warne missed the recent 5-0 test series drubbing of West Indies after breaking a finger.

"Hopefully, he'll be in great form and make cricket lovers all over the world see what a great cricketer he is," said Gilchrist.

Waugh said he was relieved that Indian police did not plan to interview his brother Mark as part of their investigations into the match-fixing scandal.

Mark Waugh was one of the nine non-Indian players named in a federal report into match-fixing last year. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

"I am relieved. It's good that this whole thing seems to have closed. Let's get on and play some good cricket," skipper Waugh said.

Australia plays two three-day matches against local sides before the first Test begins at Bombay's Wankhede Stadium on February 27.