Injury keeps key players out: Gilchrist

Bangalore, Sep 28 (UNI) Down-playing the injury worries that have kept key players out of the playing XI in the opening tie of the seven-match ODI series against India, Australian vice captain Adam Gilchrist today said the depth in the team would enable the visitors to perform inspite of missing the stars, including skipper Ricky Ponting.

Gilchrist who will be leading the Aussies at the Chinnaswamy stadium tomorrow told newspersons here that Ponting was recovering quite well and would play a part in the series.

The visitors would also be missing batsman Mike Hussey.

Gilchrist said, ''over the years we have shown great depths in the team and new players keep coming. We believe that we have a team out there that can win the game tomorrow. After the World Cup we have been trying new faces and coach Tim Neilson is very well versed with 'how the team operates'.'' He said the team had seen six new faces since the World Cup triumph in the West Indies. ''We have made six changes since the World Cup due to retirements, injuries and babies being born. We got to see new faces. Though the youngsters have not seen a lot of cricket, they are still very good,'' he said.

He agreed that with the return of Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid there would always be some pressure on Australians.

On the pitch at Chinnaswamy stadium, Gilchrist said he was yet to have a close look. ''It looked nice and a very good wicket for One day cricket. Our players have scored well in this ground,'' he said.

Asked how would he face the threat from the confident young players in the Indian team, he said there had always been a 'number of threats'. ''We lost to India in T20 semifinals. They had great passion and great energy. We expect them to come off with full confidence and its going to be a great challenge,'' he said.

On the possibility of having a 'war of words' with Indians, the Aussie Vice captain said there won't be any plan to get verbal. ''It is not planned. A few India fast bowlers were verbal in the T20 semifinals and we expect them to continue that. It is fine and we can expect them to continue that. That is expected, if there is no fire in the belly and that aggression as a fast bowler, they cannot succeed,'' he said.

Asked why some of the team members were at boxing training at the gym, he said in a lighter vein, ''if we don't win, we are going to do some physical.'' UNI RS VK PDS AS1935