A statistic that will certainly make a good reading is Australia’s winning percentage when Adam Craig Gilchrist bats for more than 20 minutes! ‘Blitzkrieg’ might come close to describing the way this dashing opener bats. A wide array of shots, peerless ability, unrivalled talent and an inimitable sportsman’s spirit make him an artist nonpareil.

Gilchrist aspired to be the world’s fastest bowler. Thankfully, he jettisoned that idea to take the bat in his hand and bat the way he does. Exquisite timing, divine placement, power-laden shots and batting at full throttle is the true ‘Gilchrist’. His attacking yet unperturbed stance, fantastic hand-eye coordination, beautiful straight bat while playing down the wicket, trademark square cut and the shimmy down the wicket are as good as anyone in the game and a treat to watch. He can play sublime shots all round the wicket and is never shy ‘to throw the kitchen sink’ at the cricket ball. He was chosen as the world’s scariest batsmen in a poll conducted by the Wisden Cricketer Magazine in 2005 wherein the Top 20-odd bowlers including the pacemen conceded, at least for the research sake, that Gilly was the man who could, at times, achieve the impossible.

Adam Gilchrist made his debut for New South Wales in the 1992-93 season but failed to hold on to his place due to the presence of the experienced Phil Emery. He then moved to Western Australia and replaced Tim Zoehrer; by 1995 Adam was just about ready to don the 'green and gold' clothing and got his first chance in an ODI against South Africa at Faridabad (October 1996). But a permanent spot in the team was still a distant phenomenon, the impediment, the legendary Ian Healy. A fine servant of Australian cricket that he was, it was not easy to dislodge him to earn a permanent spot in the Australian side. It was only around 1997 when the selectors restructured the Australian one-day side to include versatile and hard-hitting all-rounders that saw Ian Healy dropped and replaced by Adam Gilchrist. Yet he made his test debut only on the 5th of November 1999, against Pakistan at the Gabba, following Ian Healy’s complete retirement from the game. It is contested that Gilchrist lacks the athleticism of Rod Marsh and the finesse exuded by Healy. Valid argument, but modern cricket is all about versatility and value addition and on both these counts - Gilchrist is matchless.

Adam Gilchrist bats the same way in both the versions of the game and a strike rate of 82 (tests) and 97 (ODIs) is no coincidence. He also possesses an inherent match-winning ability. In just his second test match (against Pakistan) he scored an unassailable 149 not out to help Australia win a test match that looked dead and buried. Then came a regal undefeated 204 against South Africa at Johannesburg. His 172 of only 126 balls against Zimbabwe in 2004 remained a record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper in an ODI – only to be broken by MS Dhoni in November 2005. Adam Gilchrist was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2002 and also won Australia’s ODI Player of the Year Award in 2003 and 2004. He also led the side for a brief period and became Australia’s 41st test match captain. His detractors were gunning for him, as his performances in the last year were not convincing. But another match-winning innings was not far off - a robust century (144) enabling Australia to win the test match against Bangladesh (2006).

Hats off to the player who walks off after being given not out in a World Cup semi final, always a true sportsman, players like him enable us to call cricket, a gentleman’s game

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