Adam Gilchrist was the lone cricketer to visit the Jawarharlal Nehru stadium on Monday. Australia's wicket-keeping vice-captain was greeted by the sight of a wet ground, covers strewn over large parts of the outfield, and a pitch that was only uncovered during a brief lull in the rain.
The stand-in captain, however, was determined not to drop his guard despite the bleak, gloomy outlook. “It is hard to predict what the weather is going to do. I don't know how the ground drains. We will just wait and see. I am optimistic about it. It is frustrating for both teams, but the key part is that both teams are affected in a similar fashion. All we can do is try and adapt to the scenario. We will all do what we can today to get ourselves ready physically. But when we get there, both teams will have to make do with whatever conditions are put out for us," Gilchrist told newsmen at the team hotel.
"The ground is very heavy and there are a few areas of concern, but they are working hard. If there is hopefully no more rain, then there is a good chance of play. The tricky situation and all reports are that there is not going to be no chance and rain will keep coming. You got to be careful not to totally switch off and almost get into a holiday mode and all of a sudden be out there play a one-day international. We will keep preparing and fully expect to play. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."
On injured skipper Ricky Ponting's status, the Western Australian said, "It's something we will assess in the morning before making a call. If Ricky doesn't come up and if he is not feeling right, I will take it (the captaincy) on. All I try to do is steer the team in the direction Ricky does. Ricky is in the same room, I will use his knowledge and advice."
The uncertainty surrounding Ponting's unavailability and the possibility of a game, as well as no more than a sneak peek at the ground, meant Gilchrist was really in no position to even announce a twelve.
"I went down and saw the wicket and the ground. Looking at it, spin bowling might come into play even more effectively say than in Bangalore. That wicket seemed to be reasonably good for the faster bowlers."
As if to drive his point home, he went on, "When we played here nearly ten years ago (in April 1998), it was a nice batting wicket. It was very hot that day, not like now. India made more than 300 and we fell about 40 short. Sachin picked up five wickets bowling a variety of leg-spin, off-spin, googlies and everything!"
Asked if Ponting's absence was a void Australia struggled to fill, Gilchrist replied, "If Ricky Ponting is not available, you lose the best batsman in the world. It is frustrating. Saying that, it gives a chance for one of the guys to step in. Two days back, we had Brad Haddin scoring 60-odd, a beautiful innings. We have always felt we got great depth in the squad. With all due respect to Ricky, we are not unstable by him not being there."
