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Gilchrist admits Poms closing the gap

Source: Sportal - June 28, 2005

Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has conceded that the gap between the world champion and England has narrowed.

Up until their six-wicket loss to England in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy last September, the Australians had not lost to England in one-day cricket for more than five-and-a-half years, winning 14 matches on the trot.

But victories to Michael Vaughan's men in the Twenty20 contest in Southampton and the NatWest Series opener at Bristol have further released the world champion's psychological hold on the English and according to Gilchrist, given them added belief.

"It justified the optimism in English cricket on the back of the results that team produced over 12 to 18 months, definitely," Gilchrist told SportingLife.com.

"I am certain it would have given a lot of the English players the reinforcement that they have improved; they have got a great unit going and a collective spirit there."

The Australians have also lifted their game since opening their NatWest Series campaign with losses to Bangladesh and England, thanks to two match-winning efforts by Andrew Symonds, who missed the two losses due to suspension for breaking team rules.

The Queenslander, born not far from Edgbaston but taken to Australia as a toddler by his father, smashed 73 runs in Australia's 57-run victory over England at Durham and claimed five wickets in the 10-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh at Old Trafford.

"He is always going to be a key player for us and it is significant that the two games we lost he wasn't there," Gilchrist said. "He is of vital importance to our success, both he and us have known that for the past few years now."