Bye bye Gilly

Adam Gilchrist announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday. He has been a phenomenon in world cricket. Before he came into the picture, wicketkeepers were supposed to be decent batsmen; a test average of around 30 was supposed to be very good. Seventeen thousand runs and 32 centuries later, he has forever changed the definition of a wicketkeeper batsman.
Some of his career highlights read:

• The fastest Test wicketkeeper to 100 test dismissals.
  
• The fastest Test wicketkeeper to 200 test dismissals.
• World recordholder for the most number of wicketkeeping dismissals in One-Day International cricket.
• World record-holder for the most dismissals in an innings in One-Day International cricket.
• World recordholder for the most number of wicketkeeping dismissals in Test cricket.
• Fastest strike rate in the history of One-Day International cricket for a batsman scoring over 5,000 runs (96.9!).
• First batsman in Test cricket history to hit 100 sixes.
• World record holder for a wicketkeeper for playing consecutive Tests without ever being dropped for form or injury - 96 in all.
  

A perfect gentleman on and off the field, he was a rare batsman who always walked off, without waiting for the umpire's decision, if he nicked the ball.
I first saw him in a 6-a-side tournament where he smashed all the bowlers around the park.
Ian Healy was still at the helm then. While Gilly couldn't replace Healy as a keeper then, he forced his way into the Aussie team purely as a batsman. And what a batsman he was. An average of 47.9 in Test cricket will have done any top order batsman proud but that avg, from a man who batted at no 7, was simply unthinkable. After Healy retired, no other keeper has been able to take his place yet.
The innings that I most remember of his, is the one that he played to steer Australia to a test victory over Pakistan. If memory serves me right, it was an Australian tour of Pak, and Aus had won the 1st 2 tests. Paksitan had played very well in the 3rd test and had Aus on the mat on the 4th innings. Aus needed something like 360 runs to win but were down at 180 odd for 5, courtesy Wasim Akram and co. But Gilchrist came out all guns blazing and turned the match on its head by pounding the pakistani bowlers all over the park. He remained around 130 not out with Langer also scoring a century at the other end. It was one of the greatest innings I have ever seen.

I was truly saddened by the news of his retirement - for watching a great man, irrespective of his origin, at work is an inspiration. It remains to be seen whether Australia can recover from the loss of such great cricketers as Warne, McGrath, Langer and now Gilly in such quick succession. Thanks Gilly for all the entertainment you have provided over the years - and wish you all the best for your future.