Gilchrist warms up for Ashes with century

SYDNEY, Nov 17 (Reuters) Australia's wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist issued an ominous warning to England ahead of next week's first Ashes test with a blazing century today.

Gilchrist registered the second-fastest century ever seen in Australian one-day cricket in a devastating display for Western Australia in a state-match against Queensland in Perth.

The hard-hitting left-hander cracked 131 off 95 balls, featuring 17 boundaries and four sixes, raising his hundred off 63 deliveries.

Australian test opener Justin Langer was also in form, belting a half century off 28 balls before falling for 51.

Gilchrist is one of the cleanest hitters in international cricket and has already scored 15 test centuries despite batting at seven and having to keep wickets.

However, he struggled on the last Ashes tour, failing to score a single half-century and averaging just 22.62.

REUTERS SAM BD1631