The Aussie opener says the big-hitting show will continue; a combination of small grounds and short boundaries will see totals get bigger and bigger.
BASSETERRE: Adam Gilchrist believes the World Cup six-hitting show, so spectacularly headlined by record-breaking Herschelle Gibbs, will reach even greater heights as the tournament progresses.
The Australian vice-captain says that a combination of small grounds, short boundaries and the power game of the world’s leading teams, will see totals get bigger and bigger.
“Most of the top teams have got power hitters in one-day cricket,” said Gilchrist. “Most of the grounds in this region are pretty small. Such is the way that batsmen approach the closing overs in one-day cricket, there are going to be a lot of sixes hit.”
Gilchrist, one of the game’s most destructive batsmen and who was relishing taking on the hapless Dutch attack on the compact Warner Park ground here on Sunday, insists that he and those like him still have to adapt to conditions. “We’ve got be able to hit a good yorker, try not to be predictable in what we’re delivering. I guess that’s what all teams are doing.
“Batsmen are being innovative. Try not to be predictable and then whatever it is you are trying to do, do it well.” Gilchrist admitted that the slow pitches in the Caribbean are giving teams plenty to think about and that taking the pace off the ball can put pressure on batsmen.
“Some of the wickets here are going to provide assistance to slower bowling, and that brings everyone into the game a bit more than an absolute flat track does where batsmen can swing freely, so it’s evening up the contest.” Australia are already looking beyond Sunday’s Group A game against the Netherlands who were crushed by 221 runs by South Africa on Friday, the game in which Gibbs smashed his six sixes in an over.
The big match in Group A comes next Saturday when the defending champions play South Africa for top spot and the two extra points which will be carried through to the second round Super Eights. Gilchrist, whose Australian team brushed aside Scotland by 202 runs in their first game, said South Africa’s brutal destruction of the Netherlands was not surprising.
“To be honest it was expected. They got a lot of runs and like our first game their batsmen got good hits and the bowlers got to bowl a few,” said the 35-year-old Gilchrist who has 8,631 runs in 258 one-day internationals and 14 centuries.
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