When i was checking the scores of the Ind-Aus test match at Adelaide i was a taken aback when i saw an article on Adam Gilchrist's retirement. When i explored further i came to know that he has decided to retire from all forms of the game after this tour.It came as a rude shock as i had expected him to go on for another year at least. After all he is still limber and his performances in recent times though a bit on the downside are not something which arouse a call for his head.So with his retirement passes an epic which changed the way the game is being played.
He is someone who has revolutionized the world's perception of a wicketkeeper. Before his era a wicketkeeper was considered as somebody who was exceptional in the task of guarding the wickets and could chip in with the bat too. The runs scored by him were always considered to be a bonus. But with his arrival he has transformed this perception.The magnitude of his impact is so high that today teams are preferring to select guys who are good with bat and are decent behind the stumps to those who are exemplary behind the wickets but are not so good when it comes to batting.
Besides being an awesome wicketkeeper batsman Gilchrist is an exemplary sportsman. He is someone who has always played the game in the true spirit and the way he walks back to the pavilion when he knows he is out without waiting for the umpire to raise is finger is quintessential of his sportsmanship.That he walked even during the world cup semifinals even though his team was in a precarious situation speaks volumes about his character.This is probably the prime reason why i adore him so much.To be candid he is the only current Australian cricketer whom i revere.
Gilchrist deserves every bit of the accolades being showered on him.If one takes a look back at his career he has been a prolific run scorer for Australia in all forms of the game.His show behind the stumps has been equally good. Recently he passed Mark Boucher to set the world record for the maximum number of dismissals in test cricket by a wicketkeeper.He also holds umpteen number of records which include the second fastest century in test cricket,the best strike rate in test cricket for batsmen who have scored more than 2000 runs. Criticized for his lack of ability with the gloves he has proved his detractors wrong by putting in some remarkable show behind the stumps especially to the likes of Warne and Mcgrath.
Gilchrist has always been a big match player. He has been part of 3 world cup winning squads which in itself is a great achievement and his performance in all the three have been magnificent too.The innings he played against Srilanka in the 2007 world cup finals was an outstanding one. The timing of the innings couldn't have been better.It was the finals of the world cup and it required a great start as the match was already truncated. Given that he had been a bit scratchy throughout the series, he choose to strike form at the best possible time.There are numerous other innings including the one he played against India in Mumbai,which corroborate his appetite for big time. He is such a kind of a player who can turn a match on its head in a jiffy.
Gilchrist has also been a good leader throughout his career.His leadership skills were to the fore when he lead Australia to a 2-1 series victory in India,a task which even Steve Waugh couldn't manage to.He was never made a full time captain though as he was already inundated with the tasks of opening and keeping.
Gilchrist has been truly an awe-inspiring player. He is one of the greatest entertainers the game has ever got to witness. But more than anything he has been a true sportsman.He is an ideal role model for all the aspiring young cricketers.His retirement will definitely create a huge void which Australia are going to find very difficult to fill.Gilchrist has been truly a legend.
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