The Hindu : It will be a disappointment not to win the final: Gilchrist

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

It will be a disappointment not to win the final: Gilchrist

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA NOV. 16. Ask any Australian, cricket is a passion and fun to be enjoyed with unbridled enthusiasm. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist is one fine example of these attributes. A master gloveman behind the stumps and a blaster in front, the Australian team's vice-captain has been the team's success formula.

Gilchrist does not think too much about averages. "The idea of playing for your country should be a great motivational factor. We all play together and really enjoy the game. This infuses great team spirit and that leads to excellence,'' he said.

Having done so well in the ongoing TVS Cup tri-series, Australia certainly looked the team to beat in the summit clash coming off on Tuesday. And with the home team in the final, it would be a great spectacle to see and feel one lakh spectators rooting for the Indians.

The Aussie 'keeper aptly summed up his team's campaign in this tournament. "It will be very disappointing to go home without the trophy. We have to back our wish with solid performance.'' he told the media after the team underwent a strenuous workout for more than three hours this morning at the Eden Gardens.

"India really played well against New Zealand to reach the final,'' he said. "Sachin (Tendulkar) and (Virender) Sehwag set the foundation and Rahul (Dravid) finished off with some good batting. So India's entry into the final is no surprise.''

When asked whether he would like to be remembered more as a great cricketer or a good human being, Gilchrist said: "I don't sit down and judge as to how I should be remembered. I will be happy if I am remembered.'' On playing make shift wicketkeeper, he said it would depend on a team to decide this. It all depended on the team's balance. "It pays some times and it does not some other time. It is risky like one-day game,'' he said. "Wicketkeeping is a thankless job. One needs to enjoy being a 'keeper. One has to work hard to remain a good wicketkeeper.''

Nathan Bracken, who came into the Aussie team owing to absence of three established pacemen, felt it was pretty good to bowl on Indian wickets. "The slowness of Indian pitches means one has to be accurate and put the ball at the right place to pressure the opposition,'' he said. Bracken said he did speak to Alan Davidson and Glenn McGrath before embarking on this tour to know a few things about the Indian pitches and conditions.

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