Aussies confident over Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist salutes the Adelaide crowd © Getty Images

Australia are confident retiring wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist will be fit to face Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Friday despite damaging his thumb in Sunday’s 50-run win over India.

Gilchrist was standing up to the stumps to paceman Stuart Clark and cried out in pain after being struck on the thumb trying to take a delivery down the leg side in Adelaide.

Even if X-rays scheduled for later this week reveal Gilchrist has broken his thumb, it is unlikely to signal a premature end to the champion gloveman's international career.

Coach Tim Nielsen, a former first-class wicketkeeper for South Australia, has consulted team physio Alex Kountouris and said it would have to take something serious for Gilchrist to miss a match.

"I spoke to the physio this morning, it was a bit sore last night and we'll wait to see how he pulls up," Nielsen said.

"The thumb is not a brilliant one if it is busted, it was pleasing to see afterwards he was able to catch okay, he didn't seem to favour it too much, he got hit right on the 'drumstick' when it happened which can be a bit fleshy and get a bit bruised.

"Keepers are a pretty tough breed as well so he'll be right, hopefully over the next couple of days he'll have an X-ray that shows there's no fracture.

"You'd be a brave man to tell him he's not playing the rest of the series, so until we know more about it, unless it's pretty much chopped off, he'll be right."

Gilchrist has been given a rousing reception in each of Australia's one-dayers since announcing his retirement during last month's fourth Test against India in Adelaide.