Gilchrist confident despite Waugh'absence

Adam Gilchrist is confident Australia can continue their winning ways against England in the fourth test at Headingley without injured captain Steve Waugh.

"Take Steve Waugh out of any team and they're going to be a lot worse off but we have a very reliable replacement in Simon Katich," he told a press conference on the eve of the match.

Gilchrist, who is expected to lead the Australians for the final two matches after Waugh tore a calf muscle in the third test, added: "There's an incentive for me...to try and succeed without his great leadership and batsmanship.

"He's told me I'm in charge. He's shown the respect of the captaincy position by saying that. But I was very much in favour of him staying on (the tour) and it would be stupid of me not to utilise his knowledge and skills while he's around. I'll be very comfortable going to him for advice.

"It's a job share at the moment but it's his again when he gets back."

Australia lead the series 3-0, securing their seventh successive Ashes. Gilchrist, though, said there was no chance of Australia letting up.

"I guess we have been guilty of not playing well in dead rubbers in previous years," he said. "But there's a whole lot of incentives and desires driving us on."

Gilchrist, who has lead Australia once before in a test as a stand-in skipper, said he did not feel it would affect his batting. He has hit scores of 152, 90 and 54 in his three innings to date.

"If I get anything less than 98 it will look like it has affected me," he said. "But it doesn't feel like it's burdened me."

Mail Cricket Editor