All original content on this site is © 2004 - 2006 CAITE Inc. All borrowed images and articles remain copyrighted to their owners and no claim of ownership is made.

Gilchrist blasts Cricket Australia

Source: The Herald-Sun - January 31, 2006

A resurgent Adam Gilchrist says he might have rediscovered his match-winning touch earlier had Cricket Australia allowed him to miss last month's two-week tour of New Zealand.

Gilchrist had been told by selectors he could rest during the three-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day series, but both parties were overruled by CA officials.

As veteran spearhead Glenn McGrath was also being given a breather, officials from both nations were worried the integrity of the series would be questioned and ticket sales jeopardised if Gilchrist was absent.

After his breakthrough century against Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground on Sunday -- his first international ton since the Super Series against the World XI in October -- Gilchrist revealed his disappointment at missing out on a much-needed break.

"Would I have benefited from not going on that tour? Yeah," he said. "I felt it was a pretty good time to grab a breather and so did the selectors, whose job it is to pick this cricket team.

"That opportunity for them seemed to be taken away.

"That added to frustration I think. But I probably didn't give myself much of a chance over there because I didn't deal with that very, very well."

Gilchrist contributed scores of 3, 8 and 0 in that series, continuing his run of modest form which began in the preceding Test series against the West Indies.

After returning to Australia, his form in the Test series against South Africa was also moderate until he produced a match-turning 86 in the third Test in Sydney.

While his glovework remained solid, Gilchrist had managed only 13 and 0 in two VB Series matches before a two-game break, returning with 34 on Thursday in Adelaide and Sunday's 116 from 105 balls.

Gilchrist said his century was another fillip for Australia's controversial policy of resting players, which has seen skipper Ricky Ponting miss the past two matches.

"There is no doubt the rest helped me immensely, as it has done in the previous four years," he said. "That's probably what catches me by surprise.

"People are questioning a couple of guys having a rest. We have been doing this for a long time now, particularly in my position.

"People are making comment, passing judgment. That's fine but we are trying to manage our team the best way we see possible, for the short and long-term."

The relief at notching his century was plain when Gilchrist ran towards the stand where his wife Melanie [Melinda], family and teammates were sitting and punched the air in delight.

"You build up a little bit of pressure on yourself but you try not to crumble to that," Gilchrist said. "All along through this bit of a tough spot I have been going through, you have a lot of friends and family that support you, and teammates.

"But I guess Mel has been a tower of strength for me and gives me every opportunity to play well, makes any sacrifice that needs to be made.

"It felt like I was repaying her a little bit. She was sitting down there. I just wanted to jump the fence, but thought I better not."

Gilchrist said he had the unequivocal support of the selectors, including chairman Trevor Hohns, who had told him he had not "even considered" dropping him down the order despite recent speculation.

As focus shifts to next year's World Cup, the opener said he had no intention of moving from the spot he has held since January 1998.

"I just think it maintains the best balance for our team with me at the top, and I love doing it," Gilchrist said. "I do cherish it but it continues to maintain the best balance for us and give us options elsewhere.

"If there is a time when, and there will be a time I am sure, where there might be a better option, you can't begrudge a guy like (New South Welshman Phil) Jaques or Matty Hayden, who I still think is a very viable option to play international one-day cricket.

"If and when the time comes there is someone better and gives a better balance to our team to do it, if the selectors ask me to do that and move down the order, I would do it.

"But I didn't feel the time was right now and they obviously don't."

Ponting will return for Friday's match against South Africa at Telstra Dome.

- JON PIERIK