How Adam Gilchrist ended the role of the specialist wicket-keeper

[MMHS]

What do you think about Pant?
Do you think he will have a long career at test level.

Pathetic WK - without IPL, he probably won’t have kept for his FC side. But, kid has very good future in T20, may be even in ODI as well for his explosive batting capability and you don’t need much of a WK in T20s. A WK’s ultimate test is keeping against spinners, particularly on turners; for an Indian WK, it should be like second religion - kid is horrible n that; let alone snicks, not sure how many stumping she can collect in Test matches where WK gets a fraction of a second for stumping, unlike LO cricket, where often batsmen are stumped by a metre.

He is not a natural WK - movement poor, anticipation is even worse, footwork nonexistent and most painfully, he doesn’t gather the ball rather snatches it; fitness & structure is not suitable either. If he tries to be a Test WK, might loose both ends. On contrary, Saha is exactly what you look for a natural WK, even his structure & shape is also perfect - even if I take couple of years in his certificate, still he should be good enough for 2-3 years as Test specialist.

 

[Junaids]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]
Australia played five Tests at home against
Pakistan and New Zealand in the summer just gone.

Rizwan had Test scores in Australia of

37 and 95
0 and 45

Rizwan scored 177 runs in 4 innings at an average of 44.25.

Watling had scores against the same opposition the same summer of

8 and 40
7 and 22
9 and 19

Watling scored 105 runs in 6 innings at an average of 17.50.

Immediately after in the home series v India BJ Watling scored

14 and Did Not Bat
0 and Did Not Bat

Watling has been a great servant to NZ. But he is in clear decline, while I think that Rizwan is now ahead of De Kock as the world’s best wicketkeeper-batsman.

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]
Australia played five Tests at home against
Pakistan and New Zealand in the summer just gone.

Rizwan had Test scores in Australia of

37 and 95
0 and 45

Rizwan scored 177 runs in 4 innings at an average of 44.25.

Watling had scores against the same opposition the same summer of

8 and 40
7 and 22
9 and 19

Watling scored 105 runs in 6 innings at an average of 17.50.

Immediately after in the home series v India BJ Watling scored

14 and Did Not Bat
0 and Did Not Bat

Watling has been a great servant to NZ. But he is in clear decline, while I think that Rizwan is now ahead of De Kock as the world’s best wicketkeeper-batsman.

You unnecessarily drag any argument totally out of context to establish your flawed logic until someone has to stop you not so smoothly - just few days back you dragged me to point out that you didn't see much of that Gabba Test despite being in the stadium.

You have rated WKs out of 10 based on their overall career, based on which by your own scoring Rizwan is at per with Watling & just a shed behind Gilchrist - his potential could be endless, but what's the point of bragging two Tests in Australia that Rizwan had a better score? After that AUS series, he has played three Tests at home against much inferior attack/team and his scores are 4, 21* & 10 = 35 runs at 17.50 - ideally now I should pull him down to counter your logic, but that's not necessary because I also do rate the guy. If you have rated 50 years old Gilchrist here then I actually think you have overestimated Adam Gilchrist - surely, he can't be 10% better than Rizwan now.

That De Kock comparison is the icing on the cake though - that makes 9 SAF, that will struggle to get into PAK C team. OK - 8 in C team and De Kock in A team. That's why I already have written that PAK's WK stocks are in safe hands - richest in world.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Adam Gilchrist turns 50 today-Amongst top 10 cricketers ever?

Today Adam Gilchrist turns50.Arguably no cricketer in his day was as dynamic or volatile or could as single handedly turn a match.I simply can't forget the manner he simply blazed away when the chips were down to ressurect his team from the grave to attain glory.Gilchrist took bowling domination to regions unexplored,reminding one of a bomber raiding an airbase.His cavalier style of batting was a joy for spectators.Perhaps no cricketer after Viv Richards was as intimidating ,including Virendra Sehwag.It was routine to see Gilchrist strike thunder and lightning on the cricket field.Gilly was capable of inventing strokes to belittle the greatest bowlers.Nonone better delivered a knockout punch,or hijack a game better,to take a bowling attack to submission.When he exploded he was simply unbowlable.No cricketer of his time could give such a dramatic twist to a game,like a sensational turn in the plot of an epic movie.


In the first half of his career Gilchrist averaged over 60.which no batmen at 5 down ever did.In the latter half he strangely averaged around 36.Since Clyde Walcott had a better batting average.Only 4 batsmen have ever averaged more than 60 in test cricket after completing 20 innings.In the end he bid farewell to test cricket scoring 5570 runs ,at an average of 47.61.

Perhaps more than even Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne,Gilchrist was responsible for turning Australia into one of the best test and ODI sides of all time.

To me his unbeaten 149 at Hobart of just 163 balls against Pakistan to ressurect Australia from dire straits to achieve a famous victory was his best test innings.On a most challenging track Gilchrist was reminiscent f a surgeon performing a successful operation who wason the verge of death.It was an exhibition of mental tenacity at it's peak and strokeplay of the highest calibre.His double century in South Africa at Johannesburg of a mere 212 balls was another classic and so was his 149 in the 2007 world cup final.In 2005 at Christchurch his 121 turned the game 360 degrees.At Kandy in 2004,batting at no 3 he compiled a masterpiece scoring 144 from 185 balls.


It is pertinent that he was at his best against the most powerful South African team,home and away.Gilchrist also gave outstanding performances in the sub-continent and England,He was one of the major architects of Australia regaining the Ashes as well as winning in the sub-continent.

As an opening batsmen in ODI cricket,in terms of sheer impact he surpassed all.Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus felt he was a more daunting proposition than anyone.


Statistically he was the greatest match-winner of his day,In that light he even overshadowed the likes of Tendulkar and Lara.In 24 of his first 30 tests he was on the winning side. Gilchrist scored 5266 runs in winning causes in tests ,more than 90 %of his total run aggregate and 14 out of his 16 test centuries were scored in winning causes.

The strike rate of Adam Gilchrist is the second best ever,at 82,62 pr hundred balls.Blending his batting average with his average and number of tests played,makes Gilchrist a strong contender for a place amongst the very greatest.

As a wicket keeper Gilchrist averaged more dismissals per test than any wicket keeper.

Above all he was a great sportsman ,who always walked,regardless of the decision of the umpire.This feature is almost non existent today.I can never forget when he walked when given not out in the 2003 world cup semi-final and his sporting declaration at Leeds in 2001.


Cristopher Martin Jenkins and Geoff Armstrong place Gilly amongst the 10 best cricketers of all,even ahead of Brian Lara ,Wasim Akram ,Glen Mcgrath and Richard Hadlee.However David Gower ranks him at 40th place ,much below Jenkins and Armstrong.Overall in my view Gilchrist would rank around 20th amongst the all-time great cricketers.By a nose I would rate Wasim and Lara ahead.Amongst Australain cricketers I would rank Gilly below only Bradman,,Warne Lillee,Greg Chapell,Ricky Pontinga and Ray Lindwall. Amongst left-handed cricketers only Sobers,Wasim Akram, and Lara rate above him in my view.I took into account that he was not the best ever behind the stumps ,batted at 5 down and payed for a champion team.I would have loved to have seen Gilchrist play for a weak side like Lara ,which may have been his true test.

It is hard to choose between Alan Knott,,Gilchrist and AB Devillers for an all-time test XI. Knott was a better keeper while Devillers was a more innovative batsmen.

Overall I would rank Gilchrist as the best match-winner of his day with Inzamam and the most explosive batsman of his time with Sehwag.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Gilchrist has to be among the top 5 cricketers of all time. Changed the game, raised the standard of it significantly. Only Australian captain to have won in India in the last 50 years as well.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Aussie cricket icon Adam Gilchrist has a new job with the Centre for Australia-India Relations as an advisory board member.

Gilchrist, 52, currently juggles roles as a cricket commentator, a global brand ambassador for the University of Wollongong and as a World Vision goodwill ambassador.

The Centre for Australia-India Relations is a national platform established by the Aussie Government to support and facilitate greater collaboration and engagement with India.

The organisation works across all levels of government, industry, academia and civil society to build greater understanding of the Australia-India relationship and the opportunities that come from those connections.

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper played a pivotal role in cricket being featured at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 by delivering an impassioned speech at Lord's 15 years ago.

Dailymail

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The class of Gilchrist

 

[shaz619]

Rizwan has ended the role of specialist keeper and specialist batsman/keeper.

Rizwan > Gilchrist

 

[FearlessRoar]

During a podcast conversation, Adam Gilchrist said:

"Funny thing happened when India were in Australia the last time I played against them. I attempted to take a catch off the outside edge of VVS Laxman, dropped it, an absolute soda, as simple as it gets. The ball hit the ground and I looked at the replay on the big screen, looked at it again and again and again and it went probably 32 times."

"I turned to Matthew Hayden and said I'm done, I'm out. From the ball hitting the glove to the ball hitting the grass, in an instant, I realized it was time to retire. Don't worry about the tour of the West Indies, don't worry about the 100th Test in India, that was the decision made for me to give up Test cricket."

 

[BouncerGuy]

5570 - Test Runs
9619 - ODI Runs
2069 - IPL Runs
905 - Second most dismissals in a career by a wicketkeeper (all formats)
416 - Second most dismissals in Test career by a wicketkeeper

Wishing Adam Gilchrist a very happy birthday!

 

[Bhaijaan]

Wishing him the happiest bday. I love his podcast. Legendary cricketer and an absolute match winner.

Having said that I still hold it against him for killing the specialist wicket keeper’s job in cricket.

 

[Bhaijaan]

During a podcast conversation, Adam Gilchrist said:

"Funny thing happened when India were in Australia the last time I played against them. I attempted to take a catch off the outside edge of VVS Laxman, dropped it, an absolute soda, as simple as it gets. The ball hit the ground and I looked at the replay on the big screen, looked at it again and again and again and it went probably 32 times."

"I turned to Matthew Hayden and said I'm done, I'm out. From the ball hitting the glove to the ball hitting the grass, in an instant, I realized it was time to retire. Don't worry about the tour of the West Indies, don't worry about the 100th Test in India, that was the decision made for me to give up Test cricket."

The sheer honesty and realism in Aussie cricket.

 

[Hitman]

During a podcast conversation, Adam Gilchrist said:

"Funny thing happened when India were in Australia the last time I played against them. I attempted to take a catch off the outside edge of VVS Laxman, dropped it, an absolute soda, as simple as it gets. The ball hit the ground and I looked at the replay on the big screen, looked at it again and again and again and it went probably 32 times."

"I turned to Matthew Hayden and said I'm done, I'm out. From the ball hitting the glove to the ball hitting the grass, in an instant, I realized it was time to retire. Don't worry about the tour of the West Indies, don't worry about the 100th Test in India, that was the decision made for me to give up Test cricket."

Was always a huge fan of him. But just a question here, there's something Harbhajan Singh (in an interview), Sachin Tendulkar (in his book), and Sourav Ganguly (in his book) all mentioned it. Why did the man who always took pride in walking after nicking it, appealed screaming his lungs out when he was in clear view more than anyone else on the ground that Dravid didn't nick it in the 2nd Test of of the 2nd innings of India's tour to Australia in 2008?

Oh, wait it because it was marginal? No, It was when Dravid bat was nicely hidden behind his pads and even a blind man could see from behind the stumps what the reality was.
​

 

[mominsaigol]

Happy birthday to the greatest keeper bat of all time.

Till this date no one has ever surpassed Gilly as a keeper batsmen.

The only person who I believe was a better keeper behind the stumps was Mark boucher and the only other keeper batters who are comparable to gilly would have to be Quinton, Butler, Sangakkara, Brendon mcullum etc.

However I still believe that Gilly in Odi is comfortably > All the batters I've named and mentioned. In tests Pant and sanga are arguably better. Not sure about pant but sanga definitely.

However their keeping skills aren't as good as gilly and gilly remains a better all format batter.

I repeat their is Not a single All format keeper batsmen both with the gloves and with the bat that has managed to surpass Gilchrist.

The guy was next level and ahead of his time.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Ever since Adam Gilchrist happened value of a specialist wicket keeper has diminished so so much that even guys like Kamran Akmal and Rishabh Pant who were horrible keepers got to play a lot of international cricket ahead of many otherwise natural keepers from their respective countries.

The standard of keeping has gone down drastically.

To think of it for a while, most of the last class of great keepers of every country belong to the 1990s era, ever since Gilchirst most countries have had very average keepers who are nowhere near the best from their countries

For this specialist job, my verdict is that Gilchrist has been a curse.

This must for many people a shocker because Gilchrist is considered to have revolutionized keeping but I claim otherwise

What has Gilchrist revolutionized really? It wasn't that the game lacked great batsmen, it had plenty, it has plenty and it would continue to have plenty.

What the game lacks ever since Gilchrist happened, is great specialist wicket keepers. It's an extinct breed now because of one man.

Discuss

Before Gilchrist there was Jeffery Dujon of West Indies, he was a great keeper and more than a handy batsman.

 

[Hitman]

The only person who I believe was a better keeper behind the stumps was Mark boucher and the only other keeper batters who are comparable to gilly would have to be Quinton, Butler, Sangakkara, Brendon mcullum etc.

I believe Alan Knott was a better wicket keeper. I've seen a hell lot of former players have him in their All Time XI instead of Gilly, and they justified it by saying that an All Time XI doesn't need a wicket keeper/batsman because there are plenty of great batsman in the team to score runs, and they chose Alan Knott because he was an even better wicket keeper than Gilly.

Regardless, Gilly was a great, great, great player.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Before Gilchrist there was Jeffery Dujon of West Indies, he was a great keeper and more than a handy batsman.

Rashid Latif, Ian Healy were great keepers.

As a purist, I just miss seeing pure keepers. The effortlessness in which they would catch the toughest of deliveries was a joy to watch.

 

[mominsaigol]

Before Gilchrist there was Jeffery Dujon of West Indies, he was a great keeper and more than a handy batsman.

Yes but gilly changed the game entirely.

In odi sending a keeper as an opener was considered a hare brained decison before gilly showed up.

Not only did gilly succeed in that role, since his retirement only Warner and Travis have managed to measure up to gilly. Hayden was the only one who I would argue was superior to Gilly as an opener.

Warner was only ahead of gilly in home conditons in odi. In tests gilly was far superior to Warner granted gilly didn't open in tests.

Travis Head is more destructive then Gilly but as a batsmen, Gilchrist is superior to Travis.

Australia hasn't found a better opening pair then hayden and gilly.

 

[mominsaigol]

I believe Alan Knott was a better wicket keeper. I've seen a hell lot of former players have him in their All Time XI instead of Gilly, and they justified it by saying that an All Time XI doesn't need a wicket keeper/batsman because there are plenty of great batsman in the team to score runs, and they chose Alan Knott because he was an even better wicket keeper than Gilly.

Regardless, Gilly was a great, great, great player.

I haven't really seen much of Alan Knott that's the thing.

From the 60's and 70's I've only focused on WI cricket as they were really the only team worth watching in that era.

but according to wisden and cricinfo and other books, Alan knott never dropped a catch or missed a stumping or even missed a run out, atleast none that people recall.

So if that's true then yes, he deserves to be up their.

But as a batter I don't think he was anything special.

Again tbh I barely know anything about Alan Knott so I can't say.

 

[Hitman]

1. Shane Warne
2. Glenn McGrath
3. Adam Gilchrist
4. Ricky Ponting

That's the order in which I'd rate the Aussie players in their contribution towards their dominance in the all conquering Australian team from the 1999 WC till the 2007 WC.

Make no mistake, it's no knock on other Aussie players of that time. It's not a knock on those 4 players I've mentioned regarding their order either. It's just what I personally believe. All 4 of them were ek se barhkar ek.

 

[Hitman]

But as a batter I don't think he was anything special.

True, nothing special as a batsman.

 

[mominsaigol]

1. Shane Warne
2. Glenn McGrath
3. Adam Gilchrist
4. Ricky Ponting

That's the order in which I'd rate the Aussie players in their contribution towards their dominance in the all conquering Australian team from the 1999 WC till the 2007 WC.

Make no mistake, it's no knock on other Aussie players of that time. It's not a knock on those 4 players I've mentioned regarding their order either. It's just what I personally believe. All 4 of them were ek se barhkar ek.

Hayden is really underrated as well. I believe he was only subpar against NZ in test cricket.

Infact pointing was rubbish againat India in test only due to Harbajan. Hayden was the opposite. Dude loved bullying India in test cricket. It was his favourite opposition to attack.

In odi it was the same story. He was way more consistent and played longer innings then gilly. Just wasn't as explosive.

Granted in odi he was a bunny in English conditons. Struggled against seam movement their.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Pathetic WK - without IPL, he probably won’t have kept for his FC side. But, kid has very good future in T20, may be even in ODI as well for his explosive batting capability and you don’t need much of a WK in T20s. A WK’s ultimate test is keeping against spinners, particularly on turners; for an Indian WK, it should be like second religion - kid is horrible n that; let alone snicks, not sure how many stumping she can collect in Test matches where WK gets a fraction of a second for stumping, unlike LO cricket, where often batsmen are stumped by a metre.

He is not a natural WK - movement poor, anticipation is even worse, footwork nonexistent and most painfully, he doesn’t gather the ball rather snatches it; fitness & structure is not suitable either. If he tries to be a Test WK, might loose both ends. On contrary, Saha is exactly what you look for a natural WK, even his structure & shape is also perfect - even if I take couple of years in his certificate, still he should be good enough for 2-3 years as Test specialist.

He is now now the best wicket keeper batsman in test cricket since Adam Gilchrist.

 

[Hitman]

Hayden is really underrated as well. I believe he was only subpar against NZ in test cricket.

Infact pointing was rubbish againat India in test only due to Harbajan. Hayden was the opposite. Dude loved bullying India in test cricket. It was his favourite opposition to attack.

In odi it was the same story. He was way more consistent and played longer innings then gilly. Just wasn't as explosive.

Granted in odi he was a bunny in English conditons. Struggled against seam movement their.

I'll never forget forget how well Haydos performed in Australia's 2001 Test series in India

Let me tell you a story. I come from a small city in India. A new big stadium was constructed in my city back in 2012, and that has hosted every international match in my city since then. Before that, it was a substandard stadium in my city where international matches were hosted.

It was in 2003 when there was a tri series between India/New Zealand/Australia in India. My first misfortune was that India didn't play in my city, instead it was New Zealand vs Australia. My father received a VIP pass for the match. I went, and saw the players from barely 20 feet. What an experience it was! Except that Haydos and Gilly were both rested in that match. Instead Jimmy Maher and Ian Harvey player in their place ​

Here's the scorecard -

AUS vs NZ Cricket Scorecard, 7th Match at Guwahati, November 09, 2003

Live Cricket Scoreboard: Get Australia vs New Zealand 7th Match, cricket scorecard, TVS Cup (India) 2003/04 dated November 09, 2003.

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[mominsaigol]

I'll never forget forget how well Haydos performed in Australia's 2001 Test series in India

Let me tell you a story. I come from a small city in India. A new big stadium was constructed in my city back in 2012, and that has hosted every international match in my city since then. Before that, it was a substandard stadium in my city where international matches were hosted.

It was in 2003 when there was a tri series between India/New Zealand/Australia in India. My first misfortune was that India didn't play in my city, instead it was New Zealand vs Australia. My father received a VIP pass for the match. I went, and saw the players from barely 20 feet. What an experience it was! Except that Haydos and Gilly were both rested in that match. Instead Jimmy Maher and Ian Harvey player in their place ​

Here's the scorecard -

AUS vs NZ Cricket Scorecard, 7th Match at Guwahati, November 09, 2003

Live Cricket Scoreboard: Get Australia vs New Zealand 7th Match, cricket scorecard, TVS Cup (India) 2003/04 dated November 09, 2003.

www.espncricinfo.com

Bro the way you described it, I felt like I was their . Your story telling skills are amazing.