Gilly happy to watch battle from afar

Having suffered through the slings and arrows of the spicy Test series with India last summer, Adam Gilchrist says he is thoroughly enjoying the growing tension between the bitter rivals this time around - because he is not there.

With the second test due to start tomorrow, the war of words between the Australian and Indian camps continues heat up, with fast bowler Zaheer Khan taunting his counterparts, and Anil Kumble saying the amount of criticism he was receiving felt like being back in Australia.

That is where exactly where Gilchrist is, continuing to revel in his retirement and saying even the sight of Ponting and Kumble going head-to-head was not making him regret walking away at the top.

"I am more and more certain every day that I made the right decision and enjoying it a great deal," Gilchrist told WAtoday.com.au.

"I have really enjoyed following the Test, I did not get the chance and have been too busy to sit down and watch the whole Test match, but I will always take an interest and be in touch with the team.

"I enjoyed watching, was thrilled with Ricky's hundred, and watching a few other newish players developing in their role.

"It is a really delicately poised series now after no-one got the upper hand, and there is a little barbed comments going back and forth so it is just firing up nicely for the rest of the series."

With his charity work and family commitments, Gilchrist says he is as busy as he ever was while playing cricket - although he has revealed he will be turning out one more game at the WACA, in aid of the Ronald McDonald House charity of which he has been patron for eight years.

The 2008 Ronald McDonald House Charities Ball on November 8 will be auctioning off a unique chance for 16 bidders to play in a Twenty20 match featuring some of WA's cricketing greats against some formidable rugby opponents.

Gilchrist, along with Justin Langer and Brad Hogg will take on a team headed up by Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe next February.

Eight successful bidders will play in each of the sides, which Terry Creasey, RMHC Ball Chairman, said would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"We hope that this major auction item will break our fundraising record and really excite our bidders," Creasey said.

The day will include a training session the day before the match, access to the WACA dressing rooms and lockers on match day.