Clarke focused on Windies challenge

With the first Ashes Test just over six weeks away, Australia captain Michael Clarke would be forgiven for keeping at least one eye on the goings on at Lord's this week from his base here on the eastern Caribbean island of Antigua.

As England's players returned to the Test arena for the first time since the second departure of Peter Moores as coach and yet another twist in the Kevin Pietersen saga, Clarke and his teammates assembled in the West Indies ahead of the battle for the Frank Worrell Trophy, which gets underway with the first Test in Dominica on June 3.

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The Aussies celebrate a wicket during their last tour of the Caribbean in 2012 // AFP

And while New Zealand's batsmen were punishing England's attack at the home of cricket on Friday, the Australians were completing their first team training session at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, venue for the tourists' three-day practice match against a WICB President’s XI, starting on Wednesday.

The old enemy might be copping a metaphorical beating both on and off the field in the UK, but Clarke says he is paying no attention to what's happening on the other side of the North Atlantic Ocean this week.

While the ICC Test rankings indicate the series against the West Indies will be a mismatch, Australia's recent Test record away from home and the rejuvenation of a talented young Windies squad under new coach Phil Simmons means any thought of retaining the Ashes urn have been firmly pushed to one side until this series draws to a close on June 15.

And while the skipper's ability to stay entirely focused on the task at hand is well known - see his tireless rehabilitation from hamstring surgery last summer - a dodgy television set in his hotel room is also helping his cause on this occasion.

"I and we as a team are not thinking about anything apart from playing the West Indies," Clarke said.

"We've not spoken about England, we won't speak about England. And my TV's not working in my room so I'm not watching England," he added with a chuckle.

"It's very simple for us; we want to beat the West Indies in their own backyard.

"We know how tough an opposition they are - no matter what people say.

"Our goal is to make sure we are as well prepared as we can be in these conditions against this team."

The Australian players went their separate ways following their World Cup triumph eight weeks ago and have had varying preparations for this tour, which will be their first Test series for almost five months.

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Australia haven't played a Test since the series win over India during the summer // Getty Images

While Clarke and several other players stayed in Australia, Adam Voges and Peter Siddle enjoyed short stints for their respective English county sides, while most of the remainder of the squad departed for the Caribbean once their commitments in Indian Premier League were over.

Steve Smith arrived from India on Friday and Royal Challengers Bangalore quick Mitchell Starc - the last of the IPL contingent - is expected over the weekend. Shane Watson will miss the tour match in Antigua and is set to join the squad in Dominica having returned home from the sub-continent for the birth of his second child.

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Clarke said his body has responded well to the demanding flight from Australia to Antigua via the United States, adding he feels ready to play this weekend after two-and-a-half weeks of training at the Bupa NCC in Brisbane in the lead-up to the tour.

And he says he was impressed with the mood in the camp at the opening hit-out of the tour on Friday.

"It's been really positive how focused the boys are. We trained this morning and everyone trained really well," he said.

"As a team we really want to have some more consistent success away from home. And for us over the past couple of years we've understood that the only way to get that is by hard work, and training is a big part of that.

"The boys are looking fit and healthy, whether they came from the IPL or not. Even some of IPL players watching them bat and bowl today in the nets, they're raring to go.

"There's a nice feeling around our group at the moment."

Clarke was an interested observer of the Windies' recent 1-1 series draw against England, with the result only emphasising his caution of playing a lowly-ranked yet unpredictable Test nation on their own soil.

The last time Australia faced such a task, they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Pakistan, which added to Australia's imbalanced Test record away from home that has produced two wins from 12 matches since their last tour of the Caribbean three years ago.

And with conditions expected to be similar to the slow wickets the Aussies encountered in the UAE last October - particularly at the traditionally spin-friendly Windsor Park in Dominica - Clarke is on high alert.

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"I think the West Indies probably sit in a position where they've got nothing to lose," Clarke warned.

"Every single player in this squad knows we take nothing for granted. We know we're up against a good team in their own backyard, they know the conditions really well, with nothing to lose.

"We know we have to be at our best to beat them.

"I think there are a number of teams in international cricket that don't get enough credit for the way they play in their own backyard, and I think the West Indies is one of those.

"To see their performances under their new coach Phil Simmons ... he's a wonderful man and fantastic coach and I think he'll bind that group together.

"My expectations are we're playing a very good team in their own backyard. They have a good attack and we have to be at our best."