Warne will do well this time, says Gilchrist

The Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist is a man in love with Indian cuisine. He has a very responsible position in the record breaking Australian side. Not only does he dons the gloves but he is also the vice-captain of the team. He led Australia in one Test en route to the world record of 15 consecutive Test wins. His aggressive batting style sends the shivers down the spine of many a bowler in the limited version of the game. In a close encounter with CricInfo, he talks of his career and his future ahead.

Q: What are your expectations from this Indian tour?

A: I would like to do well here and maybe create history by helping the team to win the Test matches. We haven't had a lot of Test matches here. In India, we have played a lot of One Day games but Test matches are a different ball game. I am keyed up for this series and it's very important for me as a player to do well.

Q: How is the new responsibility of being vice-captain of the side?

A: It's the greatest honour for me, I mean I was very happy when I got to play for Australia and then the second best thing to happen to me was when I was made vice-captain. I know it's a very big ask and the responsibility is immense on me to perform well all the time. I always love a challenge and it's like a great challenge to have the responsibility on a very important tour.

Q: Can you relive that moment when you and Justin Langer scored unbeaten centuries against Pakistan and won the Test?

A: Oh, that was a lovely moment for me. It was probably the highest moment of my career. I remember that we needed a big ask and we had just four wickets left. Myself and Langer were at the crease when the Pakistani bowlers were bowling really well. We decided to take things as they come. I did not expect to win the match the way we did. Our first goal was to bat as long as we could and try to save the game. But what happened was that we got some deliveries that we scored off and the tempo of the game changed in our favour. That is one innings I can never forget.

Q: What's your opinion on the Indian team on this tour?

A: I think they are a very good side, especially as they're playing at home. They are the toughest team to beat at home because they bat so well here and the crowds are always behind them. It's not like that in Australia. The crowds are there too but not like what we see here. It's phenomenal, the way the crowds fill in here. I know Kumble is not in the team. He's quite a handy bowler in these conditions. I think they have a good pace attack. I haven't seen much of the spinners but I think they all bowl well here at home. The batsmen are quite good as well but we fancy our chances against them. I am hopeful of doing well here.

Q: Who is the fastest and deadliest of the two bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar or Brett Lee?

A: I think they're quite similar in a lot of ways. Both of them bowl very fast and are very lively fellows. The crowds come in to see them bowl and they get the batsmen into all sorts of awkward positions.But I think Brett is better than Shoaib because he is accurate on more occasions. He hits the deck more and keeps the ball right up to the stumps, so if the batsman misses, he hits. Shoaib I think is a little more wayward and bounces the ball a lot. He does pack quite a pace but I would rate Brett better than him.

Q: Do you miss Brett Lee on this tour?

A: Well yeah I would say it would have been nice to have him on the tour because he is such a lively bowler and the crowds love him. He would have been a good asset on this tour but it's unfortunate he is out of the series due to injury. He was out of the One Day series in Australia and we got other bowlers to replace him, and those huys did a good job. Even on this tour we have very good bowlers who can do the job for Australia.

Q: Do you think you have to change your technique to adapt to Shane Warne?

A: No, I don't think I have had to change much. I kept to him in the One Day games here on the last tour but I did not keep in the Tests. I don't think it would be all that different and there has been no major changes that I have had to make to keep to Warne in the Tests. It's a challenge keeping to him because he is the best spinner in the world today.

Q: How effective will Shane Warne be on this tour? After all, he had a bad tour in 1998?

A: Well, I think it was rightly reported that Shane wasn't 100% fit in that series. He had a major operation soon after that series. I think he is fresh now, he had a very good season back in Australia and the world will get to see what the real Warne is like on this tour. He is a great bowler and he does not need to prove anything to anyone, I think he will do well here this time.

Q: What's the real Adam Glichrist like?

A: Oh, I am a very happy fellow, I like to have fun and enjoy myself. I love food especially Indian food. I could eat and eat it forever. I look at myself and I see a guy who loves to enjoy himself. On the field I give 100% and there is a lot of pride when I walk out in the middle to play for my country. It's the greatest honour for any cricketer to play for his country and I am very competitive in the field. I am very aggressive and I like to give the ball a thump, that's how I like to bat best.