Gilly Optimistic After Victory

E-mail this Article

Print this Article

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gilchrist - happy with Aussies' progress.

Adam Gilchrist believes things are looking good for Australia after their easy rain-affected win over Bangladesh.

With the match in Antigua reduced to just 22 overs per side, Bangladesh struggled to 104 for six - Glenn McGrath becoming the highest wicket-taker in finals history with his three for 16 in the innings.

Gilchrist and rampant opening partner Matthew Hayden wasted little time in reaching their target in the 14th over to seal a 10-wicket triumph.

"It's been a great start for the team," he told Sky Sports 1 after the champions maintained a 100% record in the Super Eight.

"Things are moving well for us as a team."

The wicketkeeper-batsman is happy that all elements of the Aussies' game are firing at present.

"The bowlers have been outstanding, they were under pressure against South Africa and came through," he added.

"To go out and bat with Hayden at the moment is great, he's in intimidating form."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was equally thrilled at a job well done. "We are playing well, another good game today," he told Sky Sports 1.

"We knew Bangladesh would come at us early on but the bowlers hit their spots and did a good job.

"The batsmen just played properly and hit the gaps. They have been in really good form all tournament.

"But it's only early days and we have to keep improving."

New finals record wicket-taker Glenn McGrath, who passed Wasim Akram's previous benchmark of 55 wickets with his second of three victims, was thrilled to better one of his heroes.

"Wasim Akram is one of the best bowlers of all time so to go past him is pretty special," he said

"They had to come out and get quick runs and it came off pretty well for me."

McGrath admitted he was delighted to be entrusted with the new ball after recently being used as first change by Ponting.

He added: "To take the new ball, it was nice to get it back."

Ponting is delighted to still be able to throw the ball to an all-time great like McGrath, particularly at a time when Australia have had to come to terms with a clutch of other high-profile retirements.

"We've had a few guys move on recently, so it is great to have him still here," said the captain.

"He's bowling very well and has been ever since we've been in the Caribbean - and he's going to be one of our trump cards when the bigger games come up in a few weeks' time."

McGrath, meanwhile, modestly deflects comparisons between himself and Wasim.

"Wasim Akram is one of the greatest bowlers of all time, a left-armer who swings it both ways with the new ball - and so dangerous with the old ball too," he said.

McGrath has very different attributes - but ones which have made him the most reliable pace bowler of his and many other generations.

"I guess to go past him is something special and something I'll always remember," he said.

"But probably the other side of the coin is if you play for long enough you are going to break records here and there - so maybe I've just been playing for a long time."

Defeated Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar admitted the writing was on the wall for his inexperienced side when they were reduced to 25 for three by McGrath and Nathan Bracken.

"We lost too many wickets early and it was hard to come back," he told Sky Sports 1.

"When we lost three early wickets, that's when we lost the game.

"We have learnt a lot and I hope we will not do the same again."