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Perth: Australia spinner Brad Hogg has been cleared to play in this week's third Test against India after the tourists withdraw a complaint against him.
Hogg was due to face the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike Procter at a Perth hotel yesterday after being charged with using abusive language during last week's ill-tempered second Test in Sydney.
However, the case was dropped when India captain Anil Kumble and team manager Chetan Chauhan told Procter they were withdrawing their complaint.
"[It was] a wonderful gesture by India, showing good sportsmanship ... that's all, the end of it," Procter told reporters.
Kumble said India had agreed to drop the charges after he held a face-to-face meeting with Australia skipper Ricky Ponting.
"We decided as a team that we withdraw the charge made against Brad Hogg," Kumble said.
'Heat of the moment'
"It was just one of those incidents, probably made in the heat of the moment, and it was important that we moved on. So in view of that, we have withdrawn the charges."
Hogg was accused of making an offensive remark at Kumble and Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on the final day of the Sydney Test.
India lodged the complaint after their spinner Harbhajan Singh had been charged with racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
Harbhajan was found guilty and suspended for two matches, but has maintained his innocence and lodged an appeal.
He has been cleared to continue playing until the appeal has been heard, although no date has been set for the hearing.
"We're really happy with the outcome," Australia skipper Ponting told reporters. "We've decided from here on in this [four-match] series will be played in great spirit.
"The first Test certainly was and it's our responsibility to make sure we uphold that and we're looking forward to the next couple of Test matches being very good and very enjoyable for the spectators."
Kumble said the teams wanted to put the feud behind them.
"It's time to move on. Ricky and I had a fantastic meeting ... and we're really happy to be playing cricket again."
"It's all behind us now, so we can get on with cricket," match referee Procter said.
All smiles
Ponting and Kumble were all smiles as they shook hands and posed for the cameras after the meeting and ICC mediator Ranjan Madugalle said he was satisfied there would be no repeat of the bitter fallout in Sydney.
Madugalle was called in to help resolve the dispute after Kumble questioned Australia's sportsmanship during the second Test.
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