A Tribute To Adam Gilchrist

[howardj]

Gilly paid particular tribute to the following lads: Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Darren Lehman, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Damien (where the crap are you) Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Haydos and the War Boys.

Incidentally, all these guys went on the 2001/2002 tour to South Africa. I still maintain that the absolute peak of this golden age in Australian cricket was the 1st Test against South Africa in Jo'burg in 2002 when we absolutely ground those lads into the footmarks. The team was:

Langer, Bully Boy, Ponting, Waugh, Waugh, Marto, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Lee, Macca.

That was the peak. A team that stands the test of time.

 

[Matt79]

Hard to argue with that line up.

 

[burr]

^^ That is a pretty amazing team looking at it now. It's nice Gilly paid tribute to others. Such a nice guy

 

[The Sean]

Gilly paid particular tribute to the following lads: Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Darren Lehman, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Damien (where the crap are you) Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Haydos and the War Boys.

Incidentally, all these guys went on the 2001/2002 tour to South Africa. I still maintain that the absolute peak of this golden age in Australian cricket was the 1st Test against South Africa in Jo'burg in 2002 when we absolutely ground those lads into the footmarks. The team was:

Langer, Bully Boy, Ponting, Waugh, Waugh, Marto, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Lee, Macca.

That was the peak. A team that stands the test of time.

Wow, what a side that was.

Nothing to add on Gilly that hasn't already been said - the man is without question one of greatest players I've ever seen, and the finest keeper-batsman ever to play the game. What's more, the boorishness that has pervaded so many of modern Australian cricket's biggest stars has always been blessedly absent from him.

I read once that there is an argument to consider Gilly - relative to his role within the team - the third greatest cricketer of all time, the rationale being that when an All Time World XI is selected he is after Bradman and Sobers the third name on the teamsheet. Whether you agree with this or not, the fact that such an extraordinary compliment is even arguably true says it all for his place in history.

 

[sideshowtim]

Gilly paid particular tribute to the following lads: Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Darren Lehman, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Damien (where the crap are you) Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Haydos and the War Boys.

Incidentally, all these guys went on the 2001/2002 tour to South Africa. I still maintain that the absolute peak of this golden age in Australian cricket was the 1st Test against South Africa in Jo'burg in 2002 when we absolutely ground those lads into the footmarks. The team was:

Langer, Bully Boy, Ponting, Waugh, Waugh, Marto, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Lee, Macca.

That was the peak. A team that stands the test of time.

That is an absolutely ridiculous team.

 

[Laurrz]

Wow, what a side that was.

I read once that there is an argument to consider Gilly - relative to his role within the team - the third greatest cricketer of all time, the rationale being that when an All Time World XI is selected he is after Bradman and Sobers the third name on the teamsheet. Whether you agree with this or not, the fact that such an extraordinary compliment is even arguably true says it all for his place in history.

great point

 

[pup11]

Haha, what a **** article from Warne. Let it go, ffs.

Couldn't agree with you any more, btw why do they let him write such ****ed up articles.

 

[Smudge]

Couldn't agree with you any more, btw why do they let him write such ****ed up articles.

Because, as has been demonstrated on here by everyone reacting, it gets people reading them.

 

[Richard]

Gilly paid particular tribute to the following lads: Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Darren Lehman, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Damien (where the crap are you) Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Haydos and the War Boys.

Incidentally, all these guys went on the 2001/2002 tour to South Africa. I still maintain that the absolute peak of this golden age in Australian cricket was the 1st Test against South Africa in Jo'burg in 2002 when we absolutely ground those lads into the footmarks. The team was:

Langer, Bully Boy, Ponting, Waugh, Waugh, Marto, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Lee, Macca.

That was the peak. A team that stands the test of time.

Hard to argue with that line up.

^^ That is a pretty amazing team looking at it now. It's nice Gilly paid tribute to others. Such a nice guy

Wow, what a side that was.

That is an absolutely ridiculous team.

Nah. As I said last time Greg (howardj) mentioned how good that team was, both Waughs were on the way down by then. The side of 1999\2000 was better, IMO.

Obviously, though, that side was still not bad. And I can see why Gilchrist would pay particular tribute to them.

 

[Matt79]

Nah. As I said last time Greg (howardj) mentioned how good that team was, both Waughs were on the way down by then. The side of 1999\2000 was better, IMO.

Obviously, though, that side was still not bad. And I can see why Gilchrist would pay particular tribute to them.

Ahhh, but they added to the team with their experience!

 

[Richard]

Seriously... compare them.

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
<Batsman averaging in the low-20s by the name of Mark Waugh>
<Batsman averaging in the mid-20s by the name of Stephen Waugh>
Martyn
Gilchrist
Warne
<Rubbish bowler who'd done well 2 years ago by the name of Brett Lee>
Gillespie (not exactly in tip-top form that season)
McGrath

Slater
Blewett
Langer (in the form of his life)
Mark Waugh (the real one)
Stephen Waugh (the real one)
Ponting
Gilchrist
Warne
Brett Lee (who was actually doing the job in his first season, spectacularly so)
Fleming
McGrath

Phenominal side, IMO. I can see why Gilchrist might be a bit on-edge with Slater after the 2001 Ashes, but to miss-out Fleming from his singled-out lot is just a touch disappointing.

 

[Matt79]

Meh, Langer and Hayden were a vastly superior opening pairing than Slater and Blewett. Plus, as you well know, that had nothing to do with my sarcastic reference to our argument last night - so, no bite (apart from the reference to Hayden, just to get your juices going mate!)

 

[Ikki]

Gilly paid particular tribute to the following lads: Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Darren Lehman, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Damien (where the crap are you) Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Haydos and the War Boys.

Incidentally, all these guys went on the 2001/2002 tour to South Africa. I still maintain that the absolute peak of this golden age in Australian cricket was the 1st Test against South Africa in Jo'burg in 2002 when we absolutely ground those lads into the footmarks. The team was:

Langer, Bully Boy, Ponting, Waugh, Waugh, Marto, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Lee, Macca.

That was the peak. A team that stands the test of time.

In Borat impersonation:

"I Like!"

 

[AKkAz]

Truly was the only true sportsman in the aussie team.

 

[Langeveldt]

I've never felt like I was supporting such a hopeless cause as during the Jo'burg test of 2001/2.. Thats more a testiment to how great that Aussie team (and that Gilchrist innings) was..

 

[Richard]

Meh, Langer and Hayden were a vastly superior opening pairing than Slater and Blewett.

And Mark Waugh and Stephen Waugh were a vastly superior four-and-five pair in 1999\2000 to 2001\02. A bigger difference, IMO, than the opening pairing.

Plus, as you well know, that had nothing to do with my sarcastic reference to our argument last night - so, no bite (apart from the reference to Hayden, just to get your juices going mate!)

Slater > Hayden. Obviously.

 

[Richard]

I've never felt like I was supporting such a hopeless cause as during the Jo'burg test of 2001/2.. Thats more a testiment to how great that Aussie team (and that Gilchrist innings) was..

Nah, it's a testament to how hopeless SA were in that game. Seriously, I've never seen a worse, or more depressing, game. Donald injured. Catching diabolical (Hayden and Gilchrist, those I most hate to see get let-off, get dropped by Kallis of all people). Bowling on a flat pitch utterly uninspiring. Batting even more diabolical than the catching (Australians barely bowled a wicket-taking delivery, all batsmen just fell to rubbish shots). Innings and 340 runs.

The next 2 Tests were much better.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Seriously... compare them.

Langer (in excellent form, averaged very well throughout 2002)
Hayden (in the form of his life to date)
Ponting (see Hayden)
<Batsman averaging in the low-20s by the name of Mark Waugh>
<Batsman averaging in the mid-20s by the name of Stephen Waugh>
Martyn
Gilchrist (in the form of Bradman's life)
Warne (running hot)
<Rubbish bowler who'd done well 2 years ago by the name of Brett Lee, who still bowled near his career average>
Gillespie (still very serviceable then, he'll have you know)
McGrath (see Warne)

Slater (on the road to Dropsville)
Blewett (relatively pedestrian)
Langer (in the form of his life)
Mark Waugh (the real one)
Stephen Waugh (the real one)
Ponting (had not realised his potential)
Gilchrist
Warne
Brett Lee (who was actually doing the job in his first season, spectacularly so)
Fleming
McGrath

Phenominal side, IMO. I can see why Gilchrist might be a bit on-edge with Slater after the 2001 Ashes, but to miss-out Fleming from his singled-out lot is just a touch disappointing.

A bit selective, there, Dicko.

 

[Richard]

Nah, no way was Slater on the road to being dropped in 1999\2000, he was an integral part of the team. Nor had Ponting not realised his potential, he was established in the side and was batting extremely well by that season.

Gillespie was pretty poor in 2001\02 and Lee was abysmal. No two ways about that. Lee and Fleming in 1999\2000 were far better.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Nah, no way was Slater in the road to being dropped in 1999\2000, he was an integral part of the team. Nor had Ponting not realised his potential, he was established in the side and was batting extremely well by that season.

Gillespie was pretty poor in 2001\02 and Lee was abysmal. No two ways about that. Lee and Fleming in 1999\2000 were far better.

Slater did not fire in 1999-2000. Ponting was established, but it's myopic to assume he contributed more in 1999-2000 than 2001-02.

If you CBA to click the links, both Dizzy and Bing were averaging a couple of runs above 30. That's not abysmal by any means, but when you're bowling alongside Warne and McGrath it's excellent support.

Abysmal support would be Gillespie and Kasprowicz supporting Warne and McGrath in NZ 2004-05:

Australia Bowling

Name                Mat    O      M     R   W    Ave  Best   5 10    SR  Econ

MJ Clarke             3    8      1    24   2  12.00  1-8    -  -  24.0  3.00
GD McGrath            3  126.2   47   283  18  15.72  6-115  1  -  42.1  2.24
SK Warne              3  131.3   25   374  17  22.00  5-39   1  -  46.4  2.84
MS Kasprowicz         3   98.2   20   319   8  39.87  3-42   -  -  73.7  3.24
JN Gillespie          3  107     25   320   7  45.71  3-38   -  -  91.7  2.99
RT Ponting            3    4      1    10   0    -     -     -  -    -   2.50