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Michael Clarke: Behaviour of axed Australia players 'unacceptable'

Image: Michael Clarke: Four players had to go

Australia skipper Michael Clarke says the decision to axe four players from the squad for the third Test with India was the right one for the future of the team.

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Pattinson has taken his punishment, saying: "It sends a message to everyone here that we're playing Test cricket and to be a Test cricketer you have to get 100 per cent of things right and give everything for the team. "In the end there's no individual that comes higher than the team and I think this is a perfect example of that. "So leading into this massive summer we've got over in England and then into the Ashes back home, this is just that stepping stone which could lead to something special in the future." There has been criticism in some parts of the Australian media over the severity of the punishment, but Pattinson believes it was justified. He said: "I think this is the kick in the bum to make you really realise what we've got and what we really want and that is to get to number one. "People might say it's a harsh punishment for a small thing but I think if we look outside the actual thing we did wrong then it's other stuff as well, it builds up. "If you really look deeply, like I did at it, you can see why it's happened and I think it's just going to make us a better team, with a better mentality and a better culture in the long run."

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