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| April 16, 2007 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1428 |
Gilchrist dream in safe-keeping
ST GEORGE’S, April 15: Adam Gilchrist believes that wicket-keeper/batsmen, who can save runs and score them in equal, devastating measure, could be the key to World Cup glory.
The Australian is bidding to become one of the few players to win three World Cups with his team now just four games away from adding the 2007 title to the 1999 and 2003 crowns they also secured.
The 35-year-old Gilchrist will have the chance here on Monday to compare his glove and bat skills with those of Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, one of his contemporaries whom he rates extremely highly.
“At the World Cup, the wicket-keeping has been of the highest quality,” said Gilchrist.
“We have seen a lot of the keepers having to stand up to the medium-pacers and they have done it to an exceptionally high level – Brendon McCullum, Paul Nixon and Kumar Sangakkara, he has been outstanding.
“He made 69 against New Zealand, so he's back in form with the blade. We all look at each other and try to improve and maintain our level.”
Despite his success with the bat as an opener, Gilchrist, who has 8,857 runs to his name in One-day Internationals, insists that he has to pay attention to all facets of his game to keep his place in the team.
“If you ask all the wicket-keepers, they would say that they like to think they are picked on their glovework,” Gilchrist told Sky Sports.
“I never say well I just got a hundred, job well done. I have to go out there and train hard, catch the ball to stay as sharp as possible.
“Form with the bat can fluctuate as can form with the gloves. The guys are here as their number one keepers but they have developed a side of their game, which is batting, and that has to be at an acceptable level.”—AFP
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