West Australian batsmen miss chance for matchplay

Reeling from a first-over dismissal in yesterday's official Zimbabwe tour opener against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI, Adam Gilchrist is disappointed at not being able to get more valuable matchplay for Western Australia against the tourists. The opening first-class match of the Zimbabwe tour starts in Perth tomorrow.

Gilchrist and his Western Australian team-mates Justin Langer and Damien Martyn were unavailable for the three-day match at the WACA ground. The Australian Test squad are having a four-day camp in preparation for the Test which represents the first shots in the new season for the world champions.

The two-Test series against Zimbabwe is followed by a four-Test series with India and the annual VB series. Gilchrist said: "It would be nice to have another game under our belt and the opportunity for a couple of us to get that," he said. "So that is disappointing, but the reasons have been stated and we have to accept that. We have to be flexible. We are touring a lot these days, jumping off planes and playing in so many countries at odd times of the year and we have to get our minds right."