November 02 Saturday 2002
Gillespie shakes off injury for Ashes Test 

ADELAIDE: Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie said on Friday he had recovered from a calf injury and declared himself fit for next week's first Ashes Test. 

"I'm fit, I've declared myself fit, so I'll be playing and playing as hard as I can," Gillespie told a news conference in Adelaide. 

Gillespie will play in South Australia's domestic one-day match against New South Wales in Adelaide on Saturday. 

The 27-year-old broke down with a calf muscle injury during Australia's win against Pakistan in the first Test in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 7 and missed the next two Tests. 

The tall right-arm paceman opens the attack for Australia with Glenn McGrath and boasts a Test record of 126 wickets from 34 matches at 26.36. The first Test starts in Brisbane on November 7. 

"Ten overs in a (domestic one-day) game situation will be good, and then leading into the Test there'll be obviously quite a few training sessions that I can get through and then just build up some momentum leading into the Test match," Gillespie said. 

Gillespie was prominent in Australia's 1997 Ashes series victory, taking 16 wickets in four Tests including a career-best 7-37 at Headingley.