Gilly retires

In some respects he epitomised that Australian team even more than Warne and McGrath (and in terms of talent, we should probably include Ponting in the list) for the reason that he more than anyone enabled them to change the structure of a test match. The run-rate changed, thanks to a) his amazing hitting and b) the confidence he would have given top order batsman, coming in at 7. Change the dominant run-rate (from circa 3 an over to 4+), and the whole nature of a test match is altered.

One way that he didn’t epitomise Australian cricket was that he was evidently a thoroughly decent guy, whose arrogance at the crease was bizarrely not mirrored in his personality elsewhere. I remember him being interviewed after he had scored the 2nd fastest test century at the WACA against England a year ago. He was almost absurdly humble, given the brutal nature of what he’d just done to the England bowlers. And lets not forget that he reintroduced walking to test cricket, which given he was an integral member of Steve Waugh’s team, was about as appropriate as turning up for a football riot wearing a top hat and tails.

The bad news is that not much of his attitude has rubbed off on the bunch of scumbags he’s leaving behind…

I think to say that Australia has supreme natural ability is a cop out, although even the English national side seem to cower behind it as an excuse for dreadful performances. Maybe if the national attitude was to change, and oh, maybe put some more effort in, it wouldn’t be such a struggle.

Haddin is no certainty. You’d imagine that playing understudy for the past few years would have him in pole position but there are other young kepers around.

WA’s Luke Ronchi – http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7502.html – is one that springs to mind. Power hitter who can flay bowling attacks, very good movement to the quicks, fluid fluid and capable of keeping to the spinners.

raxar, all signs are pointing towards Luke Ronchi. Seems to have the potential to be the right package.

Gilly announced his retirement and it smacked into another thought that had been churning around amidst the daze of my Brazilian steak house meat hangover.

Australians really do rate entertainment above all else. Why isn’t Hayden revered as a god? Why is Clarke still far more bankable than Hussey or Hayden?

Because he dances around the pitch.

Gilchrist was truly special though. I’ll never forget the look on some of the English bowlers as he smashed that 57 ball century. They were completely and utterly helpless, like toddlers before a tidal wave.

Raxar

After Haddin, I think the next ‘keeper at the moment is Luke Ronchi from W.A. Chris Hartley from Queensland is also an outside contender.

What I’ll always remember about Gilly is his glovemanship. Prolific batsman, certainly, but also a very classy keeper.

Gilly was a gentleman, & it was always wonderful just to know he was on the park…
however, just as Gilly’s walking didn’t diminish his desire to win, refusing to walk is not detrimental to the character of any other cricketer (Australian, English, Indian, or otherwise).

I fell that it’s such a pity that, even in the light of the retirement of one of the game’s greats, some people just can’t resist the opportunity to chop at the tall poppies.

Would Australia’s attitude toward the game be viewed more favorably if they lost more matches? Would Australia’s loosing more matches make anyone other side better? Should the individuals that make up Australia’s cricket team be slagged-off because their achievements are so widely coveted by?

Gilly will be missed. Totally for his style of batting…..

My favourite moment was in a test v SA. Gilly came out and blasted it, the SA sponsors had put a gold board up in the stands and said they would pay a reward for anyone who could hit it. No one got close… until Gilly hit the ball OVER the board…twice.

sobers, warne, gilly – the greatest 3.

incredible how tendy is still going on and on as one after the other, gladiators bow out.

when will the guy retire??

With Gilly gone, Australian cricket has not just lost just of the most destructive opening batsman in the world, they have also lost one of the most capable wicketkeepers ever – a quality that is over shadowed by his batting exploits.
Gilchrist is probably one of the most respected Australian Cricketer, probably second only to Steve Waugh in India. Others in the present team don’t match up to the amount of love we Indians have for Gilly.
It was his un-Australian behavior, starting with deciding to walk when out along with his on field behavior that has warmed the hearts of critics and friends alike. Given that this chap is under constant proximity to some of the worst sledgers in the game of Cricket (also known as the Australian Slip Cordon), his behavior is still unquestionable.
The Cricket world would miss Gilly, because of the way he has transformed the way people looked at wicket keepers. Ever since he showed the world what he was capable of with the bat, teams all over the world have started looking for keepers who can also bat .. sometimes even compromising the keeping abilities to make sure that they have an extra batsman who can keep .. but in the long line up of batsmen who could keep .. keepers who could bat .. people who were inept at both (matt prior) .. Gilly stands out as the most people’s choice for a wicketkeeper in any world team.
He will be sorely missed .. definitely .. Brad Haddin has too big a show to fill in .. and I dont think he is capable of doing that.

I loved his sense of humour. I forget which series it was, but when the networks decided to experiment with the stump mikes on all the time. The players weren’t happy with it, but rather than whinge, Gilly got at them the good way. Dropping in words from his sponsors here and there. Gems like, “I can bat and keep all day thanks to Mars”. Absolutely brilliant.