Owzat for nerve?

From the archive, first published Wednesday 31st Aug 2005.

ADAM Gilchrist stood up in front of hundreds of England fans yesterday and advised them not to crack open the champagne just yet.

Australia's wicketkeeper held a question and answer session at Swindon's Castrol headquarters and squirmed as he was ribbed about England's 2-1 lead going into the final Test of the Ashes series.

Gilchrist, a worldwide ambassador for Castrol, was full of praise for rejuvenated England but warned that the Aussies won't give up the old Urn without a fight.

He said: "We still believe that we can win, no doubt about it.

"We've been the most successful team for a number of years. You don't just lose that ability overnight.

"The belief's still there and the experience from being successful in the past will help. It's been 18 years since England had the Ashes. That's a long time and the expectation of the public is extreme.

"We've got to make sure we've got our plans right to counter what England are doing to us. I have got to put it down to a fantastic England team at the moment.

"They have planned well and they've executed those plans in a remarkable fashion. It's the sort of thing we've been doing to everyone else over the years.

"But we're still alive. We haven't lost yet. Anything can happen in this series.

"England could easily have been 3-1 up ­ we were two runs away from being 2-0 up.

"It's been the most extraordinary cricket series to be involved in. It's been fantastic regardless of the result of the next game."

Gilchrist singled out Andrew Flintoff for special praise, having lost several wickets to him in the previous Tests.

He said: "We've always known the potential is there but to see him fulfil it with both bat and ball in one series ­ it's been one of THE remarkable individual performances."

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