Cricket: Gilchrist intent on hitting new level

By RICHARD BOOCK

DUNEDIN - If Adam Gilchrist is right that he is still trying to understand the finer points of opening the batting, then heaven help us when the penny drops.

The Australian wicketkeeper has already amassed 2658 runs in 88 one-day cricket internationals, and is ominously overdue for more heading into today's third ODI at Carisbrook.

Australia's fulltime gloveman since Ian Healy's retirement last year, the 28-year-old backed up some brilliant batting in the tri-nations series with Pakistan and India with dual failures in the first two ODIs against New Zealand, and is still chastising himself over the dismissals.

"I feel very much like I'm still learning the opener's role," he said yesterday. "I know people will find that hard to understand because I've opened in most of the games I've played - but I'm still working it out, really.

"I had a pretty good run when I first came into the side but over the past year I've been a bit inconsistent for my liking. I scored a good 50 in the tri-nations final, and two or three games before that I hit a 90, but I'm missing out a bit too."

Initially of New South Wales and now from Western Australia, Gilchrist already has five ODI centuries and a dozen 50s under his belt, but is by no means satisfied with his record and continues to search for ways to improve.

On the other hand, the left-hander is well aware of the dangers of over-analysis and negativity, and has won't lose any sleep over his struggles so far, preferring to work more on his game-plan and fine-tune his shot selection.

"There's a danger in expecting too much of yourself and I've probably been guilty of that a bit," he said. "The most intense pressure always comes from within and you can't let it dominate your thoughts or processes."

Australia look likely to give swing merchant Damien Fleming his first outing of the tour at the expense of Shane Lee in today's day-nighter, to be played on a pitch which looks hard and evenly-paced despite Dunedin's worst summer in 83 years.

New Zealand seem likely to head into the match with the same line-up picked for the first ODI, with Warren Wisneski coming back into the team for Paul Wiseman.

Given the tenor of comments made yesterday by coach David Trist - including an outrageous suggestion that Daniel Vettori had "outclassed" several Australian batsmen in Auckland - it can be safely assumed that the memory of Saturday's debacle has been well and truly jettisoned.

Trist acknowledged Australia's recent success but said New Zealand were capable of beating them - and had recently done so.

"They're a very successful side and they're playing very well at the moment," he said. "However, they're not going to keep winning forever and in the last 27 games we were one of the sides who beat them fair and square - and I don't see why we can't do it again in New Zealand."

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said that, if anything, his side had concentrated on keeping a lid on the anxiety levels rather than becoming too hyped after the loss on Sunday.

"The tension and nerves for the first real game of the series were understandably high and we played accordingly," he said. "But now we're under way things have calmed down a shade and we'll be looking to keep more control."

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Craig Spearman, Nathan Astle, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris, Warren Wisneski, Simon Doull.

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath, Shane Lee, Ian Harvey.