Gilchrist debates switch to No. 3

Adam Gilchrist will consider promoting himself to No. 3 as Australia struggle to decide on Ricky Ponting's replacement for the first Test against India, which starts on Oct 6.

Aware that he is close to bursting with responsibility as he combines wicketkeeping and the stand-in captaincy, Gilchrist could leap up from No. 7 after deciding to retain the stability of Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann at 4 and 5.

While batting at No. 3 would increase the pressure on Gilchrist in his fourth Test in charge, it would also reduce the risk of his entering to the spin of Harbhajan Singh - who dismissed him four times in 2001 - and a ring of close-in fielders.

Pushing Simon Katich up from No. 6 or introducing Brad Hodge, the uncapped top-order specialist, are also options for filling the spot of Ponting, who will miss the first two Tests with a broken left thumb.

"Simon's a very real chance and he's grown up batting at No. 3," Gilchrist said. "I've got an interest in batting there. It'd be tough work with everything that's going on, but it's an option. I'm reluctant to change the middle order, I like that stability there."

But the coach John Buchanan warned that if Gilchrist was swamped he would not move from his usual place: "If workload is an issue then there's no way Gilly will bat at 3."

The chances of Gilchrist dealing with the extra task would improve if Australia batted first and he contemplated - then ruled out - adopting a floating position in the order. "I wouldn't bat at 3 because I was captain and wanted to take control of the team," Gilchrist said. "I would do it because I thought it was the right tactical decision."

Gilchrist has batted three times at No. 3 and at short notice against Sri Lanka at Kandy in March, when Ponting was injured, he blasted Australia out of trouble with 144. He was also elevated during the second innings of the final Test against India in the 2000-01 series, which he ended with scores of 0, 0, 1 and 1.