Dubai: Adam Gilchirst, the explosive Australian wicketkeeper-batsman who thrashed Sri Lanka in the final of the 2007 ICC World Cup in West Indies by batting with a squash ball inside his gloves, said he would let his bat do the talking during the Masters Champions League.

When Gulf News asked him whether he would repeat the tactic while playing in the MCL in February next year, Gilchrist remarked in zest: “No, it is not required in Twenty20 cricket. In Twenty20 cricket, I will keep my technique correct and follow my T20 technique.”

Gilchrist, who used to be a regular in the IPL, feels it will be a great moment to return to the game.

When asked who would be the player he would have loved to see in T20, he said: “Curtly Ambrose will be great to be seen in action. It would have been very difficult to take even 12 runs an over from him.”

On Glenn McGrath’s prediction that Australia will record a clean sweep over England in the summer’s Ashes series, Gilchrist said: “I think Australia will start as favourites. I think we have a very strong bowling line up at the moment — especially in the seam department. The batsman scores the runs but Test cricket is all about taking those 20 wickets and our guys are well positioned for it. I don’t want to make any predictions of scoreline but I do think our guys start favourites and we go from there. “

Gilchrist feels nothing can beat the excitement of playing in an Ashes series. “My first Ashes Test was my 11th or 12th Test match but I was as nervous on that morning as I was in my first Test morning because of the history associated with it. From an Australian perspective, it is the series you want on your resume. So to join that history was nerve-racking, but a very proud moment. That rivalry definitely is still there but I think all rivalries around the world is now very high with social media and media coverage all building up bigger and bigger and all have become hard-fought series.”
 When asked whether Australia would be at advantage in the absence of Kevin Pietersen, Gilchrist said: “Michael Clarke is on record saying he is glad Pietersen is not playing because he feels he is a dangerous player. No doubt KP is a world class player and he is still producing some very impressive results and regardless of opinion it seems it is closed now. Andrew Strauss and ECB made that call and so there is probably not much use talking about it or having any hypthotecial scenario.

“The reality is he is not there.”