Last exit for an adopted hero

In all the great westerns, the hero rides off into the sunset, mission accomplished, and it was altogether fitting that Adam Gilchrist left Australian's western-most cricketing outpost a winner. That he scored a century was an additional bonus for a WACA crowd that was slow to take him to their hearts when he made the switch from New South Wales well over a decade ago.

In an era when Australian teams have often won games at a canter while being criticised for their behaviour, Gilchrist has been a true role model, a beacon of sportsmanship who wouldn't have been out of place in an almost forgotten age of grace.

His comments after the match - his 118 was exactly half of Australia's total, and the man-of-the-match award was a no-brainer - said much about the class of the man, and despite Brad Haddin's immense potential, Gilchrist will be sorely missed once he trades the baggy green for the IPL slog-fests.

The man who is his successor as the world's premier wicketkeeper-batsman played his part too, with a superb 80 in a lost cause. But Kumar Sangakkara can't do it on his own, and Sri Lanka need to take a long hard look at their batting. Their only success in this series came in a reduced-overs contest against India, and they simply haven't looked like posting a decent total.

It was rather rough on the bowlers, especially Lasith Malinga, who strove so hard to disrupt Australia's momentum late in the innings. The pitch may not have been made for a run-fest, but as Sangakkara showed, all it needed was a little application, and that too with the asking rate less than five an over.

So much depends on Sanath Jayasuriya at the top of the order, and consistency is no longer his forte. That leaves Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to make the bulk of the runs, with the rest not capable of anything more than fleeting brilliance. Tillakaratne Dilshan and the two Chamaras, Silva and Kapugedera, are dashers imbued with the flair that we've already associated with Lankan batsmen, but not one of them looks capable of reprising the feats of Aravinda de Silva or even Jayawardene.

Upul Tharanga hasn't kicked on after a promising start to his international adventure, and there doesn't seem to be any special talent waiting in the wings. With Jayasuriya on the last leg of what's been a long and remarkable journey, Sri Lanka need to embrace the future to avoid being left behind.   

Comments

[Turk Davies]

I don't know, I saw Mr Spock fly in front of Jim Kirk at first slip to take a great one handed catch in Star Trek 4 - the search for Spock's wicket keeping glove.

[Argus Tuft]

Gilly is Freddie's bunny.

He hit a flukey century in the World Cup Final with about 100 knicks through the slips and gully and everyone wants to call him the best ever.

He isn't even a better catch than Lenord Nimoy......Maybe he has better ears though.

[Cyril]

Gilchrist is yuck.

He isn't even that righteous. He only walks when he wants to walk. half the time he has to be given out when he knicks the ball to third slip.

And he can't catch either.

[charles]

Crocidlie Dundee, you have spent too much time up in the north of Australia and haven't seen much cricket lately.

Gilly now drops more catches than he takes and he is a one trick pony with the bat that has only come off 4 times in the last year.

Time for "Iron Gloves" to hang up the protector.

[Oscar the Grouch]

Mick - yes, I also don't understand why these people feel they have to tear Gilchrist down. He has always been one of the great entertainers of cricket, giving it the best go he could every time and at his best could set an entire stadium alight. As far as his figures go according to the Cricinfo stats he has both the greatest number of runs (9505) in ODI runs and the highest number of wickets (464) of any wicketkeeper; only M S Dhoni has a better batting average. Gilchrist also has the highest average number of catches per match.

I guess all that doesn't count with these mean-spirited turkeys who can carp and criticise all they wish but the man has the ungrudged respect of those who matter - the best cricketers in the world.

[Dileep]

I can think of a few countries that would have loved to have had Gilly play for them over the past decade. 17 Test hundreds, two World Cup-winning knocks, some stunning catches...not bad for a flat-track bully with iron gloves! No pleasing some people, I guess.

[Mick Dundee]

Crikey, what caused this torrent of abuse? The bloke has recognised that he is past his best and is retiring.
His career stats are up there with the best (thanks for the details Oscar), He is the only bloke in International cricket that walks - every time, he has never been heard to say a bad word about anybody on or off the field (the nearest he ever got to a sledge was "bowled Shane") but from reading the comments here you'd think he was the biggest bar***d since Attilla the Hun and only got selected into the best team in the world because no real cricketers wanted the spot.
In Australia this is referred to as the "tall poppy syndrome", the gleeful cutting down of anybody who dares to excel. As for can't catch - I would love to hear what Sachel, Serge, Charles and Billy thought of last night's performance.
You don't have to like him (or anything else Australian for that matter)but to attack as you have here says more about your knowledge of the game than his ability.

[Charles]

Gilly is a flat track bully who can't catch - period

[Steve]

Freddie, Freddie, Freddie

[Oscar the Grouch]

Fantastic objectivity by Sachel, Serge and Billy, I am sure this puts Gilchrist in his rightful place. Which is, actually, No. 2 in the current ICC rankings of ODI batsmen and 23 in the Test rankings. Second fastest of all time to 100. Currently ranking I think 11th of 'best ever' batsmen amongst the current players Yes, his keeping is not what it used to be - that's why he's retiring.

Very ordinary Club cricketer? Blimey, have you warned the IPL backers who are prepared to pay very, very good money for him?

[Sachel]

Gilchrist was a very ordinary club cricketer who was able to hide in a team with real superstars like hayden and Ponting, the two Waughs, Warne, McGrath and lots of good players.

Without them, he would only have his top edge to cow corner shot and his "Iron Gloves" dropping catch after catch to the amusement of the opposition team members.

[Serge]

Gilchrist is a paddy wack, hit or miss slogger who really didn't have that much talent at all esp. when the ball was moving in the air.

As a pure wicketkeeper, I would rather remember Godfrey Evans who once did not let a bye through in over 600 runs.

Gilchrist seems to miss ever second ball that comes to him.

[Billy]

I agree Adam Gilchrist is one of the most overrated players of all time and is simply a falt track bully with the bat without any real technique to talk about. Flintoff destroyed him in the only real contest of his career.

With the gloves Gilchrist looks like he has butter on his fingers.

Give me Alan Knott any day of the week.

[Liz]

Gilchrist caused Clarke and Symonds wickets. He is still a reasonable one-day player although he has only scored 4 half centuries in a year so he has been slipping for a long time.

As for his keeping, he looks like he goes at the ball with his eyes closed. even he admits he is gone. That drop of Laxman in the test was a shocker but really it stamps his lack of quality behind the stumps. "Iron gloves" and very poor.

Overrated! You betchya.

[Oscar the Grouch]

Todd: 236 was never enough? By how many wickets did the Sri Lankans win?

If you listened to the post-match comments, Gilchrist was instructed by Ponting to go for the big total when he himself was preparing to step up the pace at around 75 - when his strike rate was about 96. He ended up with a strike rate of over 89; the next-best scorer in the match - Sangakkara - managed only a titch above 70.

No doubt you could have done miles better yourself; I look forward to seeing your stats. in the ICC listings.

[Todd Shand]

Gilchrist was very selfish in his innings. He went from about 65 to 100 in singles and got both Clarke and Symonds out in the process. 236 was never enough.

Gilchrist played as selfish an innings as has ever been seen.

If Sri Lanka was half a team they would have whiped the floor with the Aussies.

Gilchrist again dropped an easy catch and old "Iron Gloves" proved why he picked the right time to retire. Haddin will be twice the keeper Gilchrist was and Australia will again seemlessly pass the torch and improve in transition, something no other team in the world can do.