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Gilchrist in appeal for more quake aid

Source: ABC Sport - October 28, 2005

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has appealed for Australians to give more money to the victims of the Pakistan earthquake.

Up to 80,000 people were killed when the quake hit nearly three weeks ago, and more than three million people have been left homeless.

Today Gilchrist said donations were still urgently needed.

"One dollar that you can contribute - that's one dollar that will go to helping," he said. "Whether it's tents, food, blankets, whatever it is, food, water, all of that is very, very valuable."

Gilchrist was speaking in advance of next week's first Test against the West Indies, which starts at the Gabba from November 3.

But the wicket-keeper refused to be drawn into the debate on whether leg-spinner Stuart MacGill should be named to the starting XI.

Gilchrist said MacGill had already proved himself many times over at Test level, but said pitch and weather conditions would be the decisive factor in the selectors' decision.

"No-one has any doubts at all what Stuart can do at Test level - he has done that whenever he has been called into the team," he said.

"There's no doubting his credentials and his abilities. It's just going to come down to what we pretty much think is the right balance in those conditions."

And he said similar considerations had been behind the decision to leave Victorian batsman Brad Hodge out of the Test squad.

"I wouldn't look at it as being dropped or a dumping," he said.

"I think Hodgey is well aware of the reasons behind it. It's just more about getting the right balance for that particular venue."