Adam Gilchrist believes aggressive batsmen like himself won't have it all their own way at the World Cup despite fellow Australia opener Matthew Hayden's prediction that a landmark score of 500 runs in a one-day international innings is now in sight.

Australia wicket-keeper Gilchrist, one of the most dynamic batsmen in the modern one-day game, only arrived in the West Indies on Monday following the birth of his third child.

But having been a spectator for world champions Australia's first warm-up match, a 106-run win over Zimbabwe, Gilchrist is now set to face old rivals England in his side's second and final practice match here Friday.

The ground is typical of many that will be used in the tournament proper in that its short boundaries are an open invitation to renowned hitters such as Gilchrist, who in 257 one-day international has scored 8,585 runs, including 14 hundreds, at an average of nearly 35.62

However, the slow, low pace of the Arnos Vale pitch has made strokeplay difficult and the surface could provide a guide for things to come at this World Cup, even though the nine highest totals by a team winning after batting second in limited overs international history have all been achieved since the turn of the century.

"Scores are becomingly increasingly more and more and it's mind-blowing, some of the batting that's going on," Gilchrist told reporters during Australia's net session at Sion Hill here Wednesday.

"Bowlers across the world are copping a pounding for it. I don't know where it will end. Anything is possible but I am not sure we will see 500 just yet."

In February, New Zealand provided further evidence of the growing dominance of bat over ball when they scored 340 for five and 350 for nine in successive one-dayers against Australia.

That followed South Africa's extraordinary record chase, also against Australia, in March last year when they scored 438 for nine in Johannesburg Wanderers after the visitors had posted a seemingly impregnable 434 for four.

But Gilchrist, a World Cup winner in 1999 and 2003, insisted bowlers would have a chance at this tournament.

"It's hard to predict but, on the evidence here, bowlers will come into it, particularly slow bowlers taking the pace off which is what we've become accustomed to over the last 10 years of one-day cricket."

If Gilchrist is right, that could mean Andrew Symonds, Australia's off-spinning all-rounder, could have just as much a role with the ball as his dashing strokeplay gives him with the bat.

Symonds is currently out with an arm problem but could be fit to face England and Gilchrist said: "He's very important to us full stop, no matter what aspect of the game we look at, bat, ball or field."

Australia other injury doubt is Hayden, sidelined with a toe injury.

"Matty is very confident he will be fine, whether or not he plays on Friday when I suspect he might be rested again to make sure nothing can happen before the main event," Gilchrist explained.

The 35-year-old Western Australia keeper missed the 3-0 one-day series defeat in New Zealand following their shock 2-0 reverse at home to England in the tri-series one-day finals.

Nevertheless, Gilchrist said he'd been grateful for as break which allowed him to see the birth of his son Archie.

"It's been nice to have that little break from cricket and have that more important business of family well and truly sorted."

In the meantime, Gilchrist said he was looking forward to facing England again although he insisted too much should not be read into the result of Friday's match.

"It's just another opportunity to become accustomed to conditions. It's been a good tussle and they (England) got the better of us at the end there. It will be a good challenge for us."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)