Here are a few comments from past and present greats of the game paying great hommige and respect for our boy......I just wanted to post them and also see how quickly it gets deleted..pmsl....
Great sign of respect from all countries too...He will be missed by all..
Buchanan, former Australia coach
He called me at the end of the third day's play to tell him about his decision. He didn't need to do that but I certainly appreciated his gesture. The decision did surprise me but it was his personal one. He was a close friend and I admired him as a person, as a cricketer and as a father.
His contribution to Australian and world cricket was incredible. He set benchmarks for wicketkeeper-batsmen and in general to cricketers. He could change games with a drop of hat in any form of the game. His character as a person, his contribution to the captain and the team culture even exceeded his contributions on the field. Possibly his loss is more than even Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. What delighted me about Adam Gilchrist was his sense of balance as a player in sport played at the highest level.
Mark Boucher, South Africa wicketkeeper and former world record holder
"The night before I had sent him a text message after he went past me on the list, saying, 'congratulations on an incredible career, long may it continue'," he told the Sun-Herald. "I really thought he could go on for another three or four years. There have probably been better wicketkeepers in the game, but he revolutionised the game in terms of being a wicketkeeper-batsman. Gilly is streets ahead of the rest in that regard.
"He is the guy who set the tone for everyone else in the game, and he has changed it forever. Before he came into the game, it was okay for a keeper to be averageing between 20 and 25 if he was doing a good job with the gloves. But Gilly came in and set new standards for all of us to follow. Everyone would like to be like Adam Gilchrist, and turn games around by smashing the ball to all parts of the ground."
Matthew Hayden, Australia team-mate
It's massive news and it's surprising news. From my point of view I feel incredibly privileged to have played with Adam for as long as I have. He's been a remarkable Australian, he's held the baggy green in his hand with great pride and passion, great discipline, great work ethic.
[He has been] a fantastic leader and had an ability to be able to change the game and that has made Adam one of the greatest players who has ever played the game. He'll be deeply, deeply missed ... greatness is what we've aspired to be in the Australian cricket team, and he's fulfilled everything that has been asked of him by all of his captains and as captain himself throughout that wonderful series in India [in 2004], where we won the series 2-1.
He has played with remarkable skill, he has entertained and done so in a statesmanlike way, bonding cricketers throughout the world and changing them with how he has played the game.
Mike Young, Australia fielding coach
I've been working for 30 years in the professional sports industry and Adam Gilchrist ranks in my top two or three. He was the ultimate and confident professional I came across. Most importantly he was a better person than he was a cricketer. And a fine, and fresh, example of that was witnessed during the Boxing Day Test against India when he pitched forward to raise money for the Glenn McGrath Breast Cancer Foundation. Individually he informed each man in the team and when he informed me obviously there was this feeling of loss, but I just told him if he knows what he's doing and if he has had a chat with his family and close ones then it doesn't matter.
Jason Gillespie, former Australia team-mate
Whether he was playing a Test or a one-day series he just loved being around the lads in the dressing room, having a laugh. He was always wearing his baggy green and his whites and he was always the last one to get changed out of them. Hopefully he can have one more moment this Test.
Sourav Ganguly, former India captain
We're all very surprised by the decision and what prompted him to retire at this point. But I guess he will know best. I think he must be the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman ever. A very, very dangerous player to be up against. He leaves a big void. I remember the innings he played against us in Mumbai in 2001. He changed the match in no time. And of course the hundred in the World Cup final last year. He was a big-match player and knew how to make an impact. He's a great person too. We got along really well.
Kim Hughes, former Australia captain
People will talk about him the way they talked about Bradman and compare players to him by saying 'he's not as good as Bradman' and like Warne by saying 'he's not as good as Warne'. He was one of those players who could turn a game in an hour, and the batters above him could attack with confidence knowing Gilly was still to come in. He's the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman the game has even seen. He changed the game. great post ange i cant quite come to terms with it at the moment it just wont seem the same without gilly there All good comments- one thing to note is that Flower ( ex Zimbabwe ) had statistically as good record as keeper/ batsman or batsman keeper, but not the 'impact' on games that Gilly has/had .....he ( Gilly ) has certainly set new standards and those that follow will almost certainly be judged too harshly ( let's face it Gilly is a once in a lifetime batsman/ keeper )
If Haddin is next up, as good as Haddin is, we will hear the cries of fans and media types- very good, but 'he's no Gilly' )..really Haddin is on a hiding-to -nothing.......cheers all. Gilly..
The Best....
go out with a 100 mate.. I liked Kim Hughes input. He was a great favourite of mine, & wasn't treated very good by a few ex players of his day.Thanks Ange I too respect him for squash glove heroics ...what a
Noble player;pr~ We are all his fans.
Great player! A very special and likeable cricketer.
He will be missed.
PS. Notice the ovation he got from the Indian players.
Not all will get that. Hats off GILLY...
He entertained everyone around the world, he set him self as a good example for the others to follow him...
You rock...!
But today it was so sad to see him go...
He is a very special and outstanding cricketer to me, i like his style and way of playing, no body can beat him...
Such a great technical player...
He will be missed so much by his fans...
No matter where ever he is, may god bless him & make him live happily forever... oh my god. what a great fan of Gilchrist. he is a really good man and good player but in fact now he wanna take rest. so let him wishes good luck. Really sad to miss him,an amazing gentleman cricketer. Great job Ange ! I liked the comments of all his present and former collegues. He will indeed be missed by the cricketing world. He is one of the few batsman who have actaully changed the game of cricket by his power hitting and cricketing skills. |
