"Adam Gilchrist is one of the greatest entertainers ever to grace a cricket ground anywhere in the world. You know when he enters the ground to bat you are about to see a show. Even when he gets out early it is usually doing something flashy. The cricket world will be poorer for his retirement but it has been richer for having been able to witness his awesome skill with both bat and gloves"

That's what the much-acclaimed cricket writer Peter Roebuck had to say about Gilchrist, the world's best wicketkeeper-batsman.The gentleman cricketer has announced his retirement from all forms of the game after the end of the forthcoming CB series.

Wicketkeepers were traditionally, players who can score a workmanlike 30-40 odd runs apart from their prime duty. But all that changed with the entry of Gilchrist. He changed the way cricketing teams around the world looked at their wicketkeeper-batsmen. He introduced a new breed of cricketer who, apart from keeping wicket,  could also contribute handsomely with the bat. Gilchrist revolutionised cricket like no other player had in the game's history.

He is a swashbuckling and flamboyant batsman apart from being a very able keeper. Despite being no well received when he replaced Ian Healy, he soon had the crowds on his side with some innings' that turned matches upside down. The very fact that people now talk of wicketkeeper-batsman and not about wicketkeepers speaks volumes about impact this great player has had on cricket.

'He was very much instrumental in Australia's reign at the top over the last decade. He made it look as though the Aussies were playing with 12 men all the time'


He was very much instrumental in Australia's reign at the top over the last decade. He made it look as though the  Aussies were playing with 12 men all the time. His aggressive batting meant that the Aussies scored fast and put the opposition on the back foot. He attacked with such flair that it demoralised the opposition, and he is by far the best example for the theory that "attack is the best defence".

He is one of the three players to be a part of the team that won the last three World Cups and he did his bit in securing victories with fine half centuries in the 1999 and 2003 finals and single-handedly turning the match in 2007 with a fine century. He is the only wicketkeeper all-rounder, performing incredibly both with the bat and gloves and would easily find a place in the pantheon of the great all-rounders.

The CB series will be the last time we can get a glimpse of those swashbuckling shots or those acrobatic takes behind the stumps. But, as correctly pointed out, his departure will make the cricketing world that much poorer.

Never in recent times has a retirement of a player  brought tears to people across the globe.
Will we get one more Gilly, one who is as entertaining and lovable as this bloke?I don't think so.

Mate ,we will miss you.