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Gilchrist amazed at 'mind-blowing' totals

Adam Gilchrist expects bowlers to have an impact during the World Cup despite predictions of massive scores during the tournament

Cricinfo staff
08-Mar-2007


Adam Gilchrist: 'It's been nice to have that little break from cricket' © Getty Images
Adam Gilchrist expects bowlers to have an impact during the World Cup despite predictions of massive scores during the tournament. Gilchrist, who joined the Australia squad on Monday after the birth of his third child, said that while totals had become "mind-blowing", a mark of 500 was still quite a way off.
"Scores are becoming increasingly more and more and it's mind-blowing, some of the batting that's going on," Gilchrist told AFP during Australia's net session at St Vincent. "Bowlers across the world are copping a pounding for it. I don't know where it will end. Anything is possible, but I am not sure we will see 500 just yet."
And Gilchrist told AAP he had no plans of joining Glenn McGrath in retirement after the tournament and he wanted to continue playing in Tests and ODIs. "I haven't thought of finishing after this," he said. "It's definitely my last World Cup."
Despite the recent surge in run-making, highlighted by New Zealand's match-winning chases of 340 and 350 against Australia last month, Gilchrist predicted the batsmen would be challenged during the tournament. "On the evidence here, bowlers will come into it," he said. "Particularly slow bowlers taking the pace off, which is what we've become accustomed to over the last ten years of one-day cricket."
Australia have some problems with their slow-bowling options, which have been added to with Andrew Symonds' arm injury. Brad Hogg has not got a wicket in his past six games while Brad Hodge's offspin was trialled in the 106-run win over Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Symonds has begun throwing and is on track to play against South Africa in the group phase on March 24. "He's very important to us full stop," Gilchrist said. "No matter what aspect of the game we look at, bat, ball or field."
Gilchrist will use Friday's match against England, who beat Australia in the CB Series finals, to "become accustomed to the conditions". "It's been a good tussle and they [England] got the better of us at the end there. It will be a good challenge for us."
He missed the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy to prepare for the arrival of his son Archie and did not travel with the squad to the West Indies. "It's been nice to have that little break from cricket," he said, "and have that more important business of family well and truly sorted."