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Gilly has no regrets after going-up against Aussies

Adam Gilchrist insisted he was still very much retired from international cricket despite the thrill of captaining Middlesex against Australia in a one-day match here at Lord’s.

The 38-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman great last played for Australia two years ago.

But he looked in superb form in making 38 at a near run-a-ball opening the innings at Lord’s on Saturday before holing out off all-rounder Shane Watson in what was Australia’s last fixture before they begin a five match one-day series against England next week.

Asked if Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who on Friday insisted his old team-mate was still good enough to be playing at the highest level, had tried to change his mind, Gilchrist told reporters: “He knows to save his breath. They’ve got a very good team there.”

There were 13 Australians on the field at the start of Saturday’s match as Gilchrist, who won the toss, opened alongside international Twenty20 regular David Warner.

“I know how unique it is to have two Australians opening the batting against the Australian team,” said Gilchrist. “It was quite a thrill being the captain of a home team here at Lord’s against your home country.”

Middlesex, thanks mainly to 92 from discarded England batsman Owais Shah, made 273 for five from their 50 overs and then, with Tim Murtagh taking three wickets, reduced Australia to 64 for four.

But Cameron White (106) and the ever-dependable Mike Hussey (72 not out) swung the game back Australia’s way with a stand of 176 as the visitors won by five wickets.

“I was very excited but then I turned round and saw Mike Hussey walking out and thought ‘this is custom made for Mike Hussey’,” said Gilchrist. “I’ve been in the changing room and seen him do it on so many occasions. I thought we could stretch them but Cameron and Huss played extremely well.”

Saturday’s match saw Australia keepers past and future in opposition with Tim Paine, who like Gilchrist opens in one-day cricket, behind the stumps for the tourists.

Paine is in England after Brad Haddin, Gilchrist’s Australia successor, was ruled out of the one-day series against England because of an elbow injury.

“He’s a stylish player, looked a class act and has got all the attributes to succeed at the highest level,” Gilchrist said of Paine.

“Tim Nielsen (the Australia coach and former South Australia wicketkeeper) is brilliant from a keeping aspect and I know he sidles up to Ricky to learn about his batting, so he probably doesn’t need much from me.”

Gilchrist, thrust temporarily into the Middlesex captaincy after Shaun Udal’s resignation last week, is about to conclude his brief stint with the London club.

In his short stay he has got to know Middlesex and England fast bowler Steven Finn, already being talked up for England’s defence of the Ashes in Australia starting in November.

The lanky paceman missed Saturday’s match after being ordered to undergo a strength and conditioning programme by the England management.

And Gilchrist said: “The irony was not lost on me in the six weeks he can’t bowl, the one of the little (practice) bowling stints he’s had was right in front of the Australian changing rooms.

All these headlines that Australia will miss out seeing Steven Finn before the Ashes, well if they’d had their video cameras going they could have got about four overs out of him this (Saturday) morning.

“But he looks like he as all the goods and he’s a tremendous bloke, which is normally the starting point too.”