Defending the staging of Chappell Hadlee trophy series, Cricket Australia
has lambasted Adam Gilchrist for suggesting that the tournament was a waste
of time and harmful to Australia`s World Cup preparations. 
CA Chief James Sutherland said CA was committed to the series which started
in 2004.
"We want to play these matches because we want New Zealand to play
these matches against us in Australia when it`s our turn to host them (next
season)," Sutherland said.
"That`s what makes the world go around. While this series hasn`t been
a success from a Cricket Australia point of view and we haven`t played as well
as we might have, the match in Auckland looked like a great game and the newspapers
in New Zealand are talking about it," he was quoted as saying in New Zealand
media.
"We don`t only live for the game of cricket in Australia. We see
ourselves having a role in ensuring the game prospers around the world,"
Sutherland added.
The hosts successfully chased a target of 337 to inflict on the Aussies their
fourth successive one-day loss that cost them the world number one ranking.
The Kiwis then repeated their performance two days later at Hamilton when they
overhauled Australia`s mammoth 346 for 5 to complete a 3-0 series drubbing.
"I`m going to be brutally honest here and say I don`t think too many people
wanted it (the series) on at all," Gilchrist had said two days ago.
"We`ve had a very hectic summer. We didn`t need this series at the moment,
and it would have been nice to have that little bit of time for everyone to
be at home freshening up and getting ready for the World Cup," said the
wicketkeeper-batsman, who was not a part of the series.
Both Gilchrist and captain Ricky Ponting were allowed to skip the three-game
series, in Gilchrist`s case to remain with his pregnant wife.
New Zealand cricket refused to comment on Gilchrist`sremarks but their former
captain Martin Crowe said they were "disrespectful".
"That`s probably the most disrespectful thing that`s been said and done
in the last few weeks," Crowe said.
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