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Gilchrist stumps the world
26/01/2008 14:59 - (SA)
Adelaide - Matthew Hayden paid a glowing
tribute to his Australian teammate Adam Gilchrist after he
stunned the cricketing world on Saturday by announcing he was
retiring from all forms of the game.
Gilchrist said he was quitting Test cricket after the
current match against India ends at Adelaide Oval on Monday and
then one-day internationals at the end of the forthcoming
triangular series against India and Sri Lanka.
Gilchrist has been facing increasing criticism over his
performances in the past 12 months but Hayden said the
Australian players had no idea he was planning to quit so soon.
"It's massive news and it's surprising news," Hayden told
reporters. "Adam informed everyone individually this morning.
There was a lot of emotion. He'll be deeply, deeply missed.
"Greatness is something we have aspired to be in the
Australian cricket team and he's fulfilled everything that has
been asked of him."
Hayden and Gilchrist have been team mates for almost decade.
They open the batting together in one-day internationals and
stand next to each other in the field with Gilchrist keeping
wicket and Hayden at first slip.
Both are regarded among the game's greats and Hayden said
Gilchrist would be sorely missed.
"I feel incredibly privileged to have played with Adam for
as long as I have. He's held the baggy green in his hand with
great pride, great passion, great discipline and a great work
ethic," Hayden said.
Flamboyant nature
"The flamboyant nature equals the greats of Vivian Richards
and some of the other calypso characters that we've seen over
the years.
"It's all been such an inspiring and stellar performance
over such a long period of time."
"He has played with remarkable skill, he has entertained and
done so in a statesmanlike way, bonding cricketers throughout
the world and changing cricketers throughout the world with how
he has played the game."
Gilchrist has revolutionised test cricket with his explosive
lower-order batting, scoring at a career strike rate above 80,
but several of his innings stand out.
He helped Australia pull off an incredible win over Pakistan
in 1999 with an unbeaten 149 and briefly held the world record
for thee fastest double century in Tests when he made 204 not
out off 212 balls against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2002.
Gilchrist provided at least two other great demonstrations
of his extraordinary power with a century off 57 balls in the
third Ashes test at Perth in 2006, missing the world record by
one run, and a match-winning 149 in last year's World Cup final.
Gilchrist, who is married with three children, is also
regarded as one of the fairest players to embrace the game after
his unselfish act of voluntarily walking during a World Cup
semi-final in 2003.
"I am now ready and excited to move into the next phase of
my life," Gilchrist said.
"Thank you to all my teammates and support staff who have
given me the most enjoyable, fun career anyone could hope for
and to the many officials and opponents I have come across."
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