da leao： ADELAIDE – Test paceman Jason Gillespie has declared himself fully fitand ready to prove it against an international-strength New South Walesbatting line-up tomorrow
Sam Lienert01-Nov-2002ADELAIDE – Test paceman Jason Gillespie has declared himself fully fitand ready to prove it against an international-strength New South Walesbatting line-up tomorrow.Gillespie missed Australia’s past two Test matches against Pakistan witha calf strain, the most recent of a long line of injuries to interrupthis international career.But today he dismissed doubts about his readiness for Australia’s Ashescampaign, saying he had been bowling well in practice sessions and wasready to go flat-out for South Australia against the Blues in the INGCup match at Adelaide Oval.”I’m fit, I’ve declared myself fit, so I’ll be playing and playing ashard as I can,” Gillespie said.He described tomorrow’s one-dayer as an ideal first step in his build-upto the opening Ashes Test, starting on Thursday at the Gabba.”Ten overs in a game situation will be good, and then leading into theTest there’ll be obviously quite a few training sessions that I can getthrough and then just build up some momentum leading into the Testmatch,” he said.”I think that’s plenty of preparation, and it is good tomorrow to have ahit-out and play a game for the Redbacks.”You always like to know that you’re feeling good and 100 per cent andhaving a bowl tomorrow will just reinforce that.”Gillespie said he relished the rare opportunity to bowl to present andformer Australian team-mates.The NSW batting line-up includes Steve and Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan andSimon Katich, as well as the nation’s most highly rated young batsmanMichael Clarke.”It’s good fun, because you know the guys pretty well and you play a lotwith them,” he said.”To play against them is a bit of a novelty, it doesn’t happen thatoften, and you really want to try and do well against them so theenthusiasm’s there, it’s just a big challenge and you just really wantto do well.”Gillespie predicted Mark Waugh’s performance would be unaffected by hisrecent axing from the Test side and subsequent international retirement.”Mark will just do what he normally does, go out there and play cricketand have fun,” Gillespie said.”I’m sure he’s looking forward to this game, he always looks forward toplaying for NSW, and I think tomorrow will be no different.”But while fellow Australian Test bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warnehave publicly stated England will struggle to win a Test in thefive-match Ashes series, Gillespie was unwilling to add any predictionsof his own.”I just worry about the things you can control and do the things thatare within your control,” he said.”I just go out there and bowl and do the best I can, if you do the rightthings and stick to your gameplan then things will look afterthemselves.”