Gilly retires!
I was out for most of the day playing club cricket (more on that after the 4th Test) so imagine my shock when I get home to the news that Adam Gilchrist has announced his retirement. It's sudden but not surprising. His batting has been a pale imitation of its former self and his wicketkeeping of late? Well, nuff said. Still, it is sad news. The two most watchable players in cricket for me were Shane Warne dominating batsmen and Gilly dominating bowling. Both have been taken away from me within a year of each other.
| Posted by JC on Sat 26 Jan |  28 comments |
One should be very careful about what they wish. I am not sure Aus realize what they have lost. So many commentators have been demanding his eviction or his retirement. Lets see how good the replacement is.
Does Gilli have a replacement? No....There can not be another Gilli....
Posted by Nike on 2008-01-26 20:14:19
Does Gilli have a replacement? No....There can not be another Gilli....
Posted by Nike on 2008-01-26 20:14:19
Brad Haddin is better than a poke in the eye with a stick.
Posted by JC on 2008-01-26 20:25:44
Posted by JC on 2008-01-26 20:25:44
Gilly is without doubt the greatest keeper-batsman I have ever seen. He's also one of the few players in the current Aussie set up who can be called a fine gentleman. It's difficult to imagine the Australian team without him. This is a loss for world cricket, but all good things must come to an end.
A true legend of the game!
Posted by Mukund on 2008-01-26 20:57:56
A true legend of the game!
Posted by Mukund on 2008-01-26 20:57:56
I guess there's been too much controversy lately. The squash ball, Sydney Test, the dropped catches, too much to take. I was going to go tomorrow to the Test anyway but now I'll have to make sure I'm there - I'm sure lots of other people will have the same thought. i wonder whether all the people calling for his retirement are shocked by how sudden it is?
Funny enough I say Damien Martyn's last innings at the Adelaide Test last year but no one knew that at the time.
Posted by MT on 2008-01-26 21:31:18
Funny enough I say Damien Martyn's last innings at the Adelaide Test last year but no one knew that at the time.
Posted by MT on 2008-01-26 21:31:18
I dare say, Gilly's decision to go is bigger than Mcgrath and Warney. Here was Wicket keeper who made No7 an attacking position So many times one would see Aussie 200/5 only to see Gilly walk in and very quick time, Aussies were 400 something.
Posted by Nike on 2008-01-26 22:35:20
Posted by Nike on 2008-01-26 22:35:20
Its a shocker really! I think australian media is responsible for this as far as i know he is still the best wicketkeeper batsman in australia. Anyways i am afraid that it will put bad effect on indian cricket and here people,media and selectors will put more pressure on our players whenever things will go wrong.
Posted by Jatinder on 2008-01-27 00:16:16
Posted by Jatinder on 2008-01-27 00:16:16
All the cricket playing countries are trying and will always try to find a wicket keeper batsman who is atleast half capable as Gilly. This itself demonstrates Gilly's importance to cricket (Australia and world). He is a real gem and will always be remembered as a true gentleman.
Guys, Could you share the greatest cricket moments involving Gilly ?
* Amazing chase with Langer to win a test match
* Won a test series in India while leading the team in place of injured Punter
* So many countless counter attacking ODI innings
....
Posted by ms on 2008-01-27 02:52:12
Guys, Could you share the greatest cricket moments involving Gilly ?
* Amazing chase with Langer to win a test match
* Won a test series in India while leading the team in place of injured Punter
* So many countless counter attacking ODI innings
....
Posted by ms on 2008-01-27 02:52:12
its sad losing gilli,,il be missing his agression.the amount of aggression he displays down the order, no other team in world cricket is blessed with such a talent at no 7 at the moment..
anyways brad hadding is good though but cant compare him with gili, he has a lot to prove now.he did do well in india .like most australian cricketers he is well prepared for the international arena right from the word go .
as i said earlier,, adelaide test is definitely going to be tame draw unless india plays really bad i dont see aussies winning and vice versa if india has to win.
the reason being ausies are just around 300 at the end of day 3 , they have to to hit atleast another 350 to declare (to surpass 1st innings deficit ) which will take them the 4th day.then assume india would be trailing 150 runs and they would start their innings on the 5th day !!!! so,indians should be bowled out within and 150 runs , if at all they cross, they should be sometime for ausies to chase...
if india has to win ,they should bowl australia out within 450 on the 4th day and set em a target of around 400 for the fifth day.
Posted by purush on 2008-01-27 03:15:36
anyways brad hadding is good though but cant compare him with gili, he has a lot to prove now.he did do well in india .like most australian cricketers he is well prepared for the international arena right from the word go .
as i said earlier,, adelaide test is definitely going to be tame draw unless india plays really bad i dont see aussies winning and vice versa if india has to win.
the reason being ausies are just around 300 at the end of day 3 , they have to to hit atleast another 350 to declare (to surpass 1st innings deficit ) which will take them the 4th day.then assume india would be trailing 150 runs and they would start their innings on the 5th day !!!! so,indians should be bowled out within and 150 runs , if at all they cross, they should be sometime for ausies to chase...
if india has to win ,they should bowl australia out within 450 on the 4th day and set em a target of around 400 for the fifth day.
Posted by purush on 2008-01-27 03:15:36
A truly great cricketer. Flamboyant, destructive yet humble. The lynchpin behind Aussie dominance under Waugh and Ponting. Cricket will never be the same again without the honourable gloveman.
Posted by Varghese on 2008-01-27 04:27:32
Posted by Varghese on 2008-01-27 04:27:32
I reckon Gilly's ready to make some real money now. Who do you think is going to sign him on? Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, or Jaipur? ;-)
Posted by Mukund on 2008-01-27 04:39:18
Posted by Mukund on 2008-01-27 04:39:18
its very unfortunate that such a great cricketer has retired from test cricket. To post your opinions regarding this you can also visit http://my-opinion-counts-2.blogspot.com/
Posted by anonymouse on 2008-01-27 07:36:07
Posted by anonymouse on 2008-01-27 07:36:07
Gily a good player, but I wont go far as saying he is the best wicket keeper batsman ever. Boucher is still playing,as well as dhoni is, nad also Kumar, who is the best batsman as of now, given up wiket keeping though. Gilly went down the path of sanath and kalu and really made their concept consistent. The black mark he kept for the entire cricket world is te use of squash bowl, robbing a world cup from the deserved team , and more than that bringing game into disrepute by manipulating rules.
Posted by TT on 2008-01-27 09:09:24
Posted by TT on 2008-01-27 09:09:24
"Gily a good player, but I wont go far as saying he is the best wicket keeper batsman ever. Boucher is still playing,as well as dhoni is, nad also Kumar, who is the best batsman as of now, given up wiket keeping though. Gilly went down the path of sanath and kalu and really made their concept consistent. The black mark he kept for the entire cricket world is te use of squash bowl, robbing a world cup from the deserved team , and more than that bringing game into disrepute by manipulating rules."
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Posted by TT on 2008-01-27 09:09:24
TT, judging from your above post you my friend are a "sad little thing" who has obviously been scared by the grate man @ some stage??? Gilly is undisputedly the best wicket keeper batsman to have ever taken to the field, in both forms of the game. The other keeper/bats you mentioned are good player and will be remember just as that "good players in their respective eras". Gilly will be remember as the best so far both on and off the field. NONe of these players come close to Gilly and to compare them to him is like the comparisons many Indian try to make of their little master to the DON. IMHO and many others NO other player has had a greater +ive influence on the game in recent history. That's all bar none-son!! Some1 said "he's the only true gentleman in the Aussie team", well, have a look around mate 'cause he's the only TRUE GM currently playing international cricket and we got 2 more days of him @ test level. (so enjoy)
TT, your attempts to cast shadow over Gilly's great world cup inns reek of classic sporting sour grapes ( and a truck-load of jealousy, envy, ........). Either you are unaware or incapable of comprehension of the laws of cricket or you have fallen victim to the deliberate false smear campaign wage on Gilly and Australian cricket after the World Cup win by the cricket playing Asian nations. Why their respective CC perpetrated the lie OR allow this to take place is another story for another day??
TT, the only "manipulation" in this story has come from U and those like U. Next time you are considering another BS post on Gilly do us all a favour and stick to trolling your favourite KP sites to gain your cheap cyber kicks.
The KING is almost dead, long live the memory of the great man!!
Posted by PhotoHog on 2008-01-27 10:37:32
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Posted by TT on 2008-01-27 09:09:24
TT, judging from your above post you my friend are a "sad little thing" who has obviously been scared by the grate man @ some stage??? Gilly is undisputedly the best wicket keeper batsman to have ever taken to the field, in both forms of the game. The other keeper/bats you mentioned are good player and will be remember just as that "good players in their respective eras". Gilly will be remember as the best so far both on and off the field. NONe of these players come close to Gilly and to compare them to him is like the comparisons many Indian try to make of their little master to the DON. IMHO and many others NO other player has had a greater +ive influence on the game in recent history. That's all bar none-son!! Some1 said "he's the only true gentleman in the Aussie team", well, have a look around mate 'cause he's the only TRUE GM currently playing international cricket and we got 2 more days of him @ test level. (so enjoy)
TT, your attempts to cast shadow over Gilly's great world cup inns reek of classic sporting sour grapes ( and a truck-load of jealousy, envy, ........). Either you are unaware or incapable of comprehension of the laws of cricket or you have fallen victim to the deliberate false smear campaign wage on Gilly and Australian cricket after the World Cup win by the cricket playing Asian nations. Why their respective CC perpetrated the lie OR allow this to take place is another story for another day??
TT, the only "manipulation" in this story has come from U and those like U. Next time you are considering another BS post on Gilly do us all a favour and stick to trolling your favourite KP sites to gain your cheap cyber kicks.
The KING is almost dead, long live the memory of the great man!!
Posted by PhotoHog on 2008-01-27 10:37:32
TT
What a silly post...
Gilly has revolutionised the game - he is a great...
There has been no other wicket keeper batsmen like him - Dhoni should be dropped and the other guys average 30 in Test cricket...
He will be sorely missed from the world game...
On another unrelated note I hate the Channel 9 commentary team - apart from Lawry, Benaud and Chappeli the rest are attrocious.
Special mention to Ian the worst commentator in the world Healy and Mark the Pom who never has anything interesting to say Nicholas...
I am going to listen to ABC grandstand, and am sick of hearing about how great Australia is even when our oppenents make 500 +
Posted by Ace on 2008-01-27 12:09:10
What a silly post...
Gilly has revolutionised the game - he is a great...
There has been no other wicket keeper batsmen like him - Dhoni should be dropped and the other guys average 30 in Test cricket...
He will be sorely missed from the world game...
On another unrelated note I hate the Channel 9 commentary team - apart from Lawry, Benaud and Chappeli the rest are attrocious.
Special mention to Ian the worst commentator in the world Healy and Mark the Pom who never has anything interesting to say Nicholas...
I am going to listen to ABC grandstand, and am sick of hearing about how great Australia is even when our oppenents make 500 +
Posted by Ace on 2008-01-27 12:09:10
I had honestly seen this coming. He'd made quite a few lapses over the past couple months and maybe it was time for him to go, the greatest ever, still the best, right on top.
Thank you Gilly, for all those wonderful innings, stunning catches, a hundered sixes, and most importantly for showing us how the game should be played.
I can't name any cricketer who would ever walk in a WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL, it required a lot of guts to do that. (although I'm still cross with him for walking once when he was actually not out!)
"Let's salute the man, the best wicketkeeper batsman the game has ever seen..
Let's salute the man, for not only changing the course of many games, but for changing the course of the game itself..."
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-01-27 19:13:29
Thank you Gilly, for all those wonderful innings, stunning catches, a hundered sixes, and most importantly for showing us how the game should be played.
I can't name any cricketer who would ever walk in a WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL, it required a lot of guts to do that. (although I'm still cross with him for walking once when he was actually not out!)
"Let's salute the man, the best wicketkeeper batsman the game has ever seen..
Let's salute the man, for not only changing the course of many games, but for changing the course of the game itself..."
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-01-27 19:13:29
Hear hear - 3 cheers for Gilly.
It was a sad day for cricket yesterday. I'm still in mourning.
Posted by Cricketgirl on 2008-01-28 10:37:00
It was a sad day for cricket yesterday. I'm still in mourning.
Posted by Cricketgirl on 2008-01-28 10:37:00
"for not only changing the course of many games, but for changing the course of the game itself..."
Agreed that he is a great player, but dont see how he changed the game itslef, no question that he changed many individual games though. What he did was to go down the path identified and proven by Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kalu. While we salute Gilly, lets not forget the actual people who should also get a fair share of the credit.
Posted by Pace on 2008-01-28 12:32:35
Agreed that he is a great player, but dont see how he changed the game itslef, no question that he changed many individual games though. What he did was to go down the path identified and proven by Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kalu. While we salute Gilly, lets not forget the actual people who should also get a fair share of the credit.
Posted by Pace on 2008-01-28 12:32:35
Ace, you know why Mark Nicholarse has nothing to say - he never played an international game, see. His inclusion amongst such former greats is a COMPLETE BLOODY MYSTERY to me!
Posted by virtualgaz on 2008-01-28 17:17:41
Posted by virtualgaz on 2008-01-28 17:17:41
I don't think you have to be a Test player to be a great commentator - some of the best commentators on ABC radio never played international cricket. No, Mark Nicholas sucks because he's a smarmy English tosser.
Posted by JC on 2008-01-28 17:28:31
Posted by JC on 2008-01-28 17:28:31
"What he did was to go down the path identified and proven by Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kalu. While we salute Gilly, lets not forget the actual people who should also get a fair share of the credit".
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Posted by Pace on 2008-01-28 12:32:35
Granted they were both good attacking players but You're comparing apples to oranges and Fords to BMWs. Last time I looked Jaya' didn't successfully keep wickets @ test level and Kalu' didn't average 50 plus for most of his test career.
Kaluwitharana Gilly
Matches: 49 95
Runs: 1933 5556
HS: 132* 204*
Average: 26.12 47.89
100s: 3 17
50s: 9 26
S/R: 60.34 81.97
Catches: 93 379
Stumpings:26 37
Pretty positive Gilly hit the most 6 (100)of any player to have ever played test cricket and hit the 2nd fastess test hundred after Viv.
See what I mean Ford against BM. It's nice to compare but let's keep it real.
Posted by PhotoHog on 2008-01-28 17:40:28
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Posted by Pace on 2008-01-28 12:32:35
Granted they were both good attacking players but You're comparing apples to oranges and Fords to BMWs. Last time I looked Jaya' didn't successfully keep wickets @ test level and Kalu' didn't average 50 plus for most of his test career.
Kaluwitharana Gilly
Matches: 49 95
Runs: 1933 5556
HS: 132* 204*
Average: 26.12 47.89
100s: 3 17
50s: 9 26
S/R: 60.34 81.97
Catches: 93 379
Stumpings:26 37
Pretty positive Gilly hit the most 6 (100)of any player to have ever played test cricket and hit the 2nd fastess test hundred after Viv.
See what I mean Ford against BM. It's nice to compare but let's keep it real.
Posted by PhotoHog on 2008-01-28 17:40:28
I can't believe that when a great of the game retires & he is an internationaly aknowledged great - that people form other cricketing nations will still have a dig at him. It's utterly pathetic & smacks of sore loser-ism.
When Sachin Tendulkar decides to call it a day I will be among the first to congratulate & heap praise on him - even though I support a country (Aus) that has been on the worng end of some of his most masterful cricket.
Grow up & aknowledge the stellar career of one of the true gentlemen of the game.
Thaks for the memories Gilly...
Posted by Mike Hunt on 2008-01-28 18:44:53
When Sachin Tendulkar decides to call it a day I will be among the first to congratulate & heap praise on him - even though I support a country (Aus) that has been on the worng end of some of his most masterful cricket.
Grow up & aknowledge the stellar career of one of the true gentlemen of the game.
Thaks for the memories Gilly...
Posted by Mike Hunt on 2008-01-28 18:44:53
PhotoHog,
I get what you say. But I never compared Kalu with Gilly or Sanath with Gilly. All what I tried to say was he wasnt that remarkable in changing the game itself. Either ODI game or Tests werent changed for good after something introduced by Gilly. He has great stats, best stats for a wicket keeping batsman, changed so many games, fully agreed.
Posted by Pace on 2008-01-28 21:15:32
I get what you say. But I never compared Kalu with Gilly or Sanath with Gilly. All what I tried to say was he wasnt that remarkable in changing the game itself. Either ODI game or Tests werent changed for good after something introduced by Gilly. He has great stats, best stats for a wicket keeping batsman, changed so many games, fully agreed.
Posted by Pace on 2008-01-28 21:15:32
Pace, sorry but IMHO you are wrong, LOL. As a Pro PhotoHog I've worked a lot of test matches both in Australia and abroad, from day1 to match end. I've seen a lot of cricket at ground level (my wife would say to much) and let me tell you when Gilly hit the scean things changed. There were other but none more so than Gilly.That's why so many love him regardless of nationality.
PS.I watch the great Windies teams (that's the VIV ones) but only as a teenager so can't comment on them or preVIV.
Posted by PhotoHog on 2008-01-28 23:19:26
PS.I watch the great Windies teams (that's the VIV ones) but only as a teenager so can't comment on them or preVIV.
Posted by PhotoHog on 2008-01-28 23:19:26
Whenever I think of Gilchrist I remember his walking out in the 2003 WC semifinal. It was a gr8 sportsmanship which the Aussies rarely exhibit. But I was really disappointed to see his work in the Sydney test where he started celebrating after taking the Dravid catch which actually came off the pad. I could not believe a sportsman like him can do this. Nevermind, he still was head and shoulder above the rest of the Aussies who never believed in sledging, playing any kind of mind games. He really did a good thing by walking out gracefully.
Posted by Rdx on 2008-01-29 14:15:02
Posted by Rdx on 2008-01-29 14:15:02
Now that Gilchrist is gone, the Aussies need our support more than ever. The last matches haven’t been the best; the Indian chapter has been really controversial. Losing the last world cup to the Brits… we need to get behind our Team.
I came across this way of winning tickets to the West Indies and follow the Aussies in their April match. Check it out…http://www.aamicaribbeancricket.com/ It sounds mad, I hope I can be there!
Posted by richard on 2008-01-29 14:49:28
I came across this way of winning tickets to the West Indies and follow the Aussies in their April match. Check it out…http://www.aamicaribbeancricket.com/ It sounds mad, I hope I can be there!
Posted by richard on 2008-01-29 14:49:28
Yeah Gilly has gorn...oh well, but the loss of Shaun Tait??? That is a tragedy. His test career was blossoming nicely. The Indians loved his effort in that one test. But now he is tired and disillusioned. You pop off to bed for a nice nana-nap Shauny and we'll hopefully see you back again next year.
Maybe you should call into Bunnings and get some Hardener!
Posted by Yandi on 2008-01-29 18:26:33
Maybe you should call into Bunnings and get some Hardener!
Posted by Yandi on 2008-01-29 18:26:33
Maybe you should call into Bunnings and get some Hardener!
Would that be in the isle next to effigy burning or donkey painting materials?
Posted by Mike_Hunt on 2008-01-30 11:22:32
Would that be in the isle next to effigy burning or donkey painting materials?
Posted by Mike_Hunt on 2008-01-30 11:22:32
guys, theres a little tribute to Gilly posted on www.cricketcuts.com
The guy was an absolute genius! Im a South African, but I rate him, alongside Richards, Hadlee, Warne, Lara and Tendulkar as one of the modern greats in the game!
Nice touch!
Posted by Flashdakota on 2008-01-30 23:31:34
The guy was an absolute genius! Im a South African, but I rate him, alongside Richards, Hadlee, Warne, Lara and Tendulkar as one of the modern greats in the game!
Nice touch!
Posted by Flashdakota on 2008-01-30 23:31:34
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