Memories across 22 yards

Category: Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist

  • Unfamiliar territories

    Unfamiliar territories

           Image courtesy © Getty Images

     

    This knock by Adam Gilchrist is one of my favourite knocks. He played this innings within a year and a little since his test debut. I recollect this innings now because of the constant remembrance by the cricket pundits about the Asian teams’ search for victory in test series in South Africa and Australia which is still unprecedented. When the Indian team’s recent test tour to South Africa concluded also people have come up with many findings as faults especially in batting. The fingers can be pointed out to many factors. But majority say it is the problem of the territory which is not familiarized by the visiting teams.

    If that is the case then how some batsmen from Down Under and a few others of the Proteas did it in the Indian subcontinent. I remember a few such performances by some players from Australia and South Africa in Indian subcontinent in tests. Mark Taylor’s 334 in Peshawar, Matthew Hayden’s 119 in Mumbai, Damien Martyn’s 110 and 161 in Galle and Kandy respectively, Steve Smith’s 109 in Pune, Lance Klusener’s 118 in Kandy, Gary Kirsten’s 100 in Faisalabad, the unbroken 429 stand between Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar in Chittagong and all except the first had resulted in victories for the visiting team. Also the outstanding bowling and fielding units of the team when the above batsmen scored their centuries were deciding factors in the victories.

    There are some really good knocks by some Asian batsmen in South Africa and Australia too but majority of them have resulted in losses or draws unlike the performances by the above batsmen. For me Azhar Mahmood’s 132 in Durban when he took on Allan Donald and Fannie de Villiers comfortably stands out as far as the Asian batsmen’s performance in fast and bouncy pitches is concerned. Mushtaq Ahmed also chipped in in that match with his nine-for.

    Among the best batting performances by visiting batsmen in India that resulted in victory for their teams, I remember this innings by Gilchrist the most since I watched his batting from ball one. I was waiting for a collapse for the Aussies when they were 99/5. But he took away the match in one session with a run rate of more than six per over. What I think about is the way these players from the visiting team prepare for the matches in subcontinent. Also they were too gifted. If playing well pace, bounce and swing are the benchmarks for a bastman from Asia outside Asia, then playing well turn, bounce and spitting balls from spinners are the benchmarks for a batsman from fast and bouncy tracks in subcontinent. Gilchrist played this innings in his first match of his first international test series tour in Asia and that makes this more memorable.

    I really want the Asian teams to win a test series in South Africa and Australia comprehensively. But they reach on the verge of winning a series there and then fade away. And the performance story is profusely spasmodic.

    I remember Shane Warne naming his best batting eleven of all time and he said as a batsman the player should be able to deliver by scoring a hundred in three key countries namely England, Australia and India since you find pace, swing, bounce, turn and spit for the bowlers in these places. But I will add South Africa and Sri Lanka too to the above list due to the unpredictable pitches there which can become a nightmare for the batsmen. Gilchrist had scored centuries in tests in all these places.

    1. Series – Australia tour of India, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 3 Match Test Series, 1st  test
    2. Year – 2001
    3. Venue – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
    4. Date – 27-28 February, 1 March, 2001
    5. Result – Australia won
    6. Margin – 10 wickets
    7. Player of the match – Adam Gilchrist
    8. Series won by – India
    9. Margin – 2-1
    10. Player of the series – Harbhajan Singh

    Written on 28th February, 2018

  • Gilly at Perth – The then second fastest test century

    Gilly at Perth – The then second fastest test century

     

    9-adam-gilchrist-perthImage courtesy © Getty Images

     

    I have observed a few cricket pitches that had lost its earlier behaviour. Those pitches were very much lively for the faster bowlers earlier and now they are in complete contrast to its earlier behaviour. Those pitches lie in Sabina Park, Jamaica, Kingsmead, Durban and WACA, Perth. But the pitch that I observe very much among the above is in WACA, Perth. Because the WACA we see nowadays is very much different from the earlier WACA.  At WACA, earlier there was so much pace and carry for the fast bowlers and that is not the case now, although we have seen a result recently when South Africa defeated Australia here.

    When David Warner and Ross Taylor scored double centuries at WACA during the second test match in the three match test series between Australia and New Zealand during 2015 I was so impressed, but when the match ended up in a draw I was very disappointed. Because the fast bowlers could not deliver what they could do earlier.  Those batsmen who had scored runs at will when WACA was lively really did a remarkable job. I don’t know when did the above pitches start showing contrasting behaviours especially WACA. I remember Chris Gayle charging the Aussie fast bowlers during 2009 at WACA during The Frank Worrell Trophy when he scored a century and I think at that time WACA had not lost its true nature and so was the case when Gilly scored this century. Roy Fredericks had also showed so much skill when he took on a charging Jeff Thomson and an equally competent Dennis Lillee at WACA. Ian Chappell had described Fredericks’ innings at WACA among the list of best centuries that he had watched. Chappell was saying the quicker you bowled, the harder he hit. But somewhere, somehow things started changing and WACA is no more the lively pitch we saw earlier when Fredericks, Gilchrist and Gayle made hay when the pitch assisted the faster bowlers so much. I even doubt those gunslingers have spoiled the charm and pedigree of these pitches.

    When I was watching ESPN’s legends of cricket, I remember Glenn McGrath saying about Gilchrist’s preparation during this Ashes test series. He had mediocre performances in the previous Ashes test series and during this Ashes test series he was working so hard and McGrath had never seen him working so hard like that. One may argue that the bowling unit was not that brilliant and this knock was played at Gilchrist’s home ground. But I will say when Gilchrist is in this kind of form he can score anywhere against any quality opposition. Even now I don’t understand why did Matthew Hoggard bowl a wide when Gilchrist had the opportunity to break Viv Richards’ record for the then fastest test century.

    The first time I had observed Gilchrist’s batting was when he opened with Mark Waugh at Kochi against India when the Aussies needed more than 300 to win the match. That match is one of the very few one day internationals that I had watched from the very beginning till the end including presentation ceremony. When Gilchrist displayed his wide range of strokes I seriously thought whether it is possible for wicket-keepers to bat like this. Australia had scored 102 runs in 11 overs for the opening wicket and Gilchrist had a strike rate of 135 when he was out and such strike rates were very rare during those days. Australia were cruising but Sachin Tendulkar took his first five wicket haul in one day internationals and handed a victory for India. I remember Dean Jones saying about the sound from Viv Richards’ bat when Richards took on the bowlers. Jones was saying it was a different sound When Richards did his batting. I will say Gilchrist also displayed the same sound when he batted and now AB de Villiers is a champion batsman like the above two.

    Whenever my friends and me roam around we say many things related to many fields. Many times one person will say something with a slight hint and asks the others to guess what it is and it is always fun especially when we are in car. Whenever I had said something about Gilchrist and asked my friends to guess who the person is, most times they had replied correctly except when we went to our family oracle during 2010.  Maybe that time my parents were with me when I was behind the wheel. It was 14th November, 2010 and I asked my parents can you guess which Australian cricketer’s birthday is today? But they could not answer. Maybe it was because they don’t watch too much cricket. I am more than happy to present this write-up on Gilly’s birthday. Nowadays I can’t see anyone coming at number seven in tests and swatting the quality bowlers all over the park and I very much feel to witness a player like Gilly again won’t happen in the near future.

    1. Series – Australia tour of England, The Ashes, 5 Match Test Series, 3rd test
    2. Year – 2006
    3. Venue – WACA Ground, Perth
    4. Date – 14-18 December, 2006
    5. Result – Australia won
    6. Margin – 206 runs
    7. Player of the match – Michael Hussey
    8. Series won by – Australia
    9. Margin – 5-0
    10. Player of the series – Ricky Ponting

    Written on 13th November, 2016

     

  • Steve Waugh’s Aussies

    Steve Waugh’s Aussies

    8-adam-gilchrist-johannesburg

    Image courtesy © Getty Images

     

    Recently I have been attending various classes in my office about investments. Experts say about inflation, savings, returns and so on. When it comes to investments, you need to foresee future and for that formulae are applied. It says that based on your present spending, you will be able to know after a couple of decades what will be your expenses and your returns if your investments are productive.

    When you do not know something or when there is an uncertainty, formulae are most welcome. We talk about the collections that were gigantic in old hit movies. When we see the present movies generating more revenue than the old ones, we apply certain formula to know the value of present revenue, because we know the present value of money is very much different from the value of money that was derived years ago.

    If there are such formulae in cricket to evaluate prodigious talents, I would like to learn that and apply. That is simply because I was clueless about the dramatic turnarounds in the outcome of many matches played by Australia in particular, when Stephen Waugh captained the Kangaroos. This match is one among them. I had watched this match live and the Aussies had lost half of their side after posting a decent total. Gilchrist came in and then it was sheer carnage for the next couple of hours. After scoring 650 plus the Aussies declared. I was of the impression that the pitch is really good for batting.

    But the match was over in three days and the Aussies won by an innings and 360 runs. The Aussies comprehensively overshadowed a very strong Proteas in all departments in their own den in South Africa. The pitch that assisted the batsmen was not the same when the Aussie bowlers grabbed the ball. I have observed the other way round also. When Australian bowlers bundle out the opposition inside a few overs, I will be of the opinion that it is a bowling track and when Langer and Hayden come, followed by a very strong middle order I would be having a doubtful second thought about the pitch observation. Till now I didn’t get an answer or a formula and always I am clueless. The Aussies ruled like anything when they were captained by Stephen Waugh. Steve’s captaincy record in terms of winning percentage in test cricket is way ahead of his legendary counterparts that include Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Stephen Fleming, Hansie Cronje and Graeme Smith.

    In this innings, Gilchrist was very severe on fast bowlers. Shaun Pollock was not there in this match. But I don’t think when Adam bats like this, his presence would have made a difference. Gilchrist had narrowly missed a display board in this match that offered a prize money, when his six of Neil McKenzie fell inches away from that board.

    Even after more than 14 years, I remember the third day of this match when Australia won the match. All Aussie players paraded around the ground by waving their hands to the crowd.

    1. Series – Australia tour of South Africa, 3 Match Test Series, 1st test
    2. Year – 2002
    3. Venue – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
    4. Date – 22-24 February, 2002
    5. Result – Australia won
    6. Margin – Innings and 360 runs
    7. Player of the match – Adam Gilchrist
    8. Series won by – Australia
    9. Margin – 2-1
    10. Player of the series – Adam Gilchrist

    Written on July 2016

     

  • Adam Gilchrist – Batting second under lights at Kingsmead, Durban

     

     

    Durban cricket pitch is known for its pace and bounce. For the past several years it had deteriorated a lot and now it assists batsmen so much unlike previously.

    I remember during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, India took on England in a day and night encounter at Durban and many cricket enthusiasts talked about winning the toss and batting first. Because Durban had a history of assisting fast bowlers, when they bowl second. After winning the toss Sourav Ganguly rightly asked England to bowl first. Ashish Nehra justified Ganguly’s decision by taking 6 wickets in that match. My friends and me had talked so much about the English batsmen in that match. Except Andrew Flintoff everyone struggled. The conditions will become more favourable for fast bowlers when lights are on. It is extremely difficult to bat second at Durban against fast bowlers under lights, although the situation is slightly okay for batsmen nowadays when compared to previous cases.

    So how about batting second at Durban under lights and scoring a hundred at brisk pace. That too against the home team who has had a history of top class fast bowlers. I am sure that this South African bowling attack had more finesse than the Indian bowling attack that took on England during the 2003 encounter. Also this match was played one year earlier than the India-England match. I am sure that either the quality of this pitch would have been at par with the 2003 pitch, or it had more for the bowlers than the 2003 pitch. I had watched almost all matches of this ODI series and before that, all matches of the test series. But certainly I could not remember this innings of Adam Gilchrist. I have come across this knock accidentally and then I realized that I had watched this series.

    I really admire Gilly due to this ability of him which majority of other batsmen can’t do. I have heard that Viv Richards did the same though I had not watched his knocks. Only few would disagree when it comes to picking up Gilchrist as the all-time greatest wicket-keeper batsman. Once Brian Lara had picked up Kumar Sangakkara ahead of Gilchrist, among the list of best players he had played against in his career. But I will definitely pick Gilchrist as my all-time favourite wicket-keeper batsman. Also the bowling attack of their team when Gilchrist, Richards and Sangakkara played is something to be looked into. Despite many great knocks of Sangakkara, Sri Lanka was on the losing side. And that was not the case with West Indies and Australia. Because their bowling unit was quite brilliant.  Almost all great knocks of Viv and Gilly resulted in victory for their teams.

    I have great memories of day night matches. It started from various tournaments played at Sharjah. Then when it comes to matches in West Indies and South Africa, even if you watch day matches it will be night here in India due to the difference in the time. I also like the natural beauty of West Indies and South Africa.

     

    1. Series – Australia tour of South Africa, 7 Match ODI Series, 5th ODI
    2. Year – 2002
    3. Venue – Kingsmead, Durban
    4. Date – 3 April, 2002
    5. Result – Australia won
    6. Margin – 8 wickets
    7. Player of the match – Adam Gilchrist
    8. Series won by – Australia
    9. Margin – 5-1
    10. Player of the series – Ricky Ponting

     

     

    Written on June 2016

     

     

     

  • Memories of first Mumbai trip

    Memories of first Mumbai trip

    6-adam-gilchrist-sydneyImage courtesy © Getty Images

     

    I always say to my close circle of friends that when you recollect various events, and when you have other important memories connected with what you recollect, then it becomes very special.

    This innings of Adam Gilchrist is one among them. It was not only because of the way he played, but there were many other things associated with it. I have so many other things to remember along with this knock of Gilly. Number one I watched this innings from Mumbai and that was the first time I was to Mumbai and it was 2007. I have heard from people so many times that life at Mumbai is so fast and days pass so quickly and I really felt it. We had boarded a train via Konkan for the very first time and since it was a special train in most cases it halted as usual, because the other regular trains including those to very short distances should ply. But someway or other those unncecessary halts really helped us. Because usually in most trains from Kerala via Konkan to the Northern parts of India, you won’t be able to enjoy the scenic beauty as most trains will cover the Konkan area at night, except Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani and a few couple of other trains.

    Since our train halted so many times we got the complete picture of Konkan. Early morning on the next day, we reached at the beginning of Konkan railway network and it was a joyous ride for the next several hours as we could really enjoy the trip. It was the first journey with my sister after her first return trip from United States of America and I could see her clicking so many pictures in her new camera. I played music in my Ipod gifted by her and a layman sitting next to me asked me “What is this ?”

    I met my future brother-in-law for the first time when I reached Mumbai. He came to our house and had food and just before he left he presented some gift to my mother and hugged her. Me, at 21 years at that time seriously thought I have been seeing my mother for the past so many years and not even a single time she had hugged me and now she is hugging someone after seeing for the very first time.

    Also this match was played after Aussies winning the Ashes 5-0 at Australia. In this knock of Gilchrist you can hear him talking to commentators while batting. I think that is the reason why he got out early because he could not concentrate. I had visited many places at Mumbai and I really enjoyed vibrant Mumbai. Even now I ask my friend who had just returned from his Mumbai office to Cochin – Why did you leave there?

     

    1. Series – England tour of Australia, Only T20I
    2. Year – 2007
    3. Venue – Sydney Cricket Ground
    4. Date – 9 January, 2007
    5. Result – Australia won
    6. Margin – 77 runs
    7. Player of the match – Cameron White
    8. Series won by – Australia

     

    Written on June 2016

  • Adam Gilchrist, Australia tour of New Zealand, 2005, 1st test

    Adam Gilchrist, Australia tour of New Zealand, 2005, 1st test

    5-adam-gilchrist-christchurchImage courtesy © Getty Images

     

    Once again I have deviated quite well from a conversation and reached at the topic cricket. This time I discussed with my friend about the specified mandatory hours for our profession, the recent launching of new cars and a nice ride in the coming weekend before talking about cricket.

    I remember one of my old pals was so impressed with Glenn McGrath, when Australia toured New Zealand during March 2005. Because McGrath was very economical in that match. I was so impressed with the batting of Simon Katich and Adam Gilchrist. After scoring 433 and then reducing Australia to 160/5 and then to 201/6, certainly the Kiwis were right back in the game. But they were on the losing side. Because the Aussie number seven and eight had taken the game away from them in a couple of hours.

    We all know how capable was Adam Gilchrist. But this time I was thinking other things about him. Of Course in this knock too he had charged down in his trade mark style and deposited Daniel Vettori over the ropes to the stands for five times. This time I thought about things besides the technique and class. We all know Dhoni is a great runner between the wickets. He had said so many times that when he sees big scores he will have some small targets in his mind. After completing the small target he sets up a relatively bigger target, and finally he achieves the tougher one gradually. I really think about how Gilchrist would have felt when he had seen the big score smiling when his team is crumbling.

    When I was watching ESPN’S legends of cricket, Waqar Younis was saying about the aggression of Adam Gilchrist. After dismissing more than half of the batting side the bowlers will think about finishing the game suddenly and then he comes and takes the game away. In this innings he had batted at number eight.

    Also when you really admire a person in any field, you think a lot about that person and gathers information as much as you can besides their professional statistics. Like Mohanlal is really fond of antiques, Mammootty shows so much interest in new cars. Dhoni is known for asking his favourite mangoes when India tour the Caribbean. Viswanathan Anand loves fish. I remember during April 2000 when Michael Bevan was adjudged as player of the match for his heroics in a match between Rest of the World Eleven and Asian Eleven, Ravi Shastri asked him what did you eat ? because it was a marathon innings in a one day match. I would certainly think about Gilly’s favourite pastime activities and other stuffs like the above during the time when he was playing and also after retirement.

    I don’t know whether my old pal had noticed about other players’ contribution in this match when he was eloquent about McGrath. In this match three players had scored centuries and three others had scored fifties. McGrath had picked up six wickets in the first innings. But in the second innings McGrath had conceded only 19 runs in his 14 overs which is unbelievable on a batting track. Yes we need such type of wickets nowadays for matches. There is seam, swing and bounce for fast bowlers. Vettori and Shane Warne had picked five wickets each in Australia first innings and New Zealand second innings respectively and there was some top class batting.

    Today I went to my office in my car, as already the meteorological department in Kerala had predicted heavy rains. When I finished my work and left the office, it was dark and gloomy. Then I started my car and when I had covered a small area, I saw our Barrister in front of our office and I waved my hand. I don’t know whether my gesture was recognised. And when I was about to reach my home there were slight drizzles. Then I worked on this writing after reaching home. By the time I finished all my thoughts for this writing, heavy rains were lashing and the conversation with my father went relatively longer, because I had to ask things a couple of times to my father as he could not hear anything due to the sound of heavy rain.

     

      

    1. Series – Australia tour of New Zealand, Trans-Tasman Trophy, 3 Match Test Series, 1st test
    2. Year – 2005
    3. Venue – Jade Stadium, Christchurch
    4. Date – 10-13 March, 2005
    5. Result – Australia won
    6. Margin – 9 Wickets
    7. Player of the match – Adam Gilchrist
    8. Series won by – Australia
    9. Margin – 2-0
    10. Player of the series – Adam Gilchrist

     

       

    Written on 9th June, 2016