We are looking ahead to the challenge: Gilchrist

As a player he has already proved his ability in no uncertain terms. In India as the vice-captain of the Australian cricket team, Adam Gilchrist was quite candid while speaking about his chances and his goals on the tour. The 29-year-old Aussie has filled in the gloves left behind by Ian Healy and has proved to be a worthy successor. He captained the Australian side to a Test victory in the absence of Steve Waugh in Australia at a very early stage of his Test career.

Gilchrist was present at the press conference held at Hotel Orchid in Mumbai on Wednesday. Not only did he speak well but displayed signs of maturity as a player. He handled the media with the skill and competence he shows as he flicks the ball out of the ground in blitzkrieg fashion. His level of maturity was on show when he defended his team mates and send out a clear picture of the events to come in the next few weeks. He brushed aside speculation that Shane Warne would not have an impact on this tour. Gilchrist defended him saying, "On the last tour, I had a close look as I kept in the ODIs. It was reported that Shane was probably not 100 percent fit. After this, he had a major surgery so hopefully this time he has come quite fresh. He has done well in the One dayers for Australia. We are hoping he is 100 percent fit and we will show cricket lovers all around the world what a great bowler he really is."

Donning the deputy's cap, Gilchrist carried himself well as he settled the case of Brett Lee. Arguably the fastest bowler in world cricket, Lee was unable to make it on the tour after injuring his elbow in the One Day series. Gilchrist said, "It is disappointing not to have someone like Brett on the tour. We did lose Brett in a couple of games in Australia and we got capable replacements to step in and do the job. So it was disappointing on the one hand but a great opportunity for other fast bowlers to prove themselves."

A lot has been written of the fact that in the current Australian team, seven of the players have not played a Test match on Indian soil. Gilchrist himself is one of the seven. Probed if that would be a factor playing on the minds of the players, he sidelined the issue saying, "A majority of the team have played some sort of cricket in India and we would like to take that experience on board, it certainly will be a tough test of our ability and certainly I think we're all looking to the challenge of taking on India in India. Most of us have played against India in Australia but the conditions are different and it's certainly a challenge we are looking forward to."

Explaining his own batting position in the Test side, he said that the team was doing well and had a good batting lineup. He was of the view that it would not be all that important to change that now. "The balance of the side is good and I don't think there would be any problem for me batting at number six. I have done that for my state side so I might do that here as well."