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Gilchrist 'new Bradman'

Source: The Courier-Mail - January 5, 2005

ADAM Gilchrist was yesterday branded Australia's most destructive batsman after Donald Bradman as the legend of his hurricane force grew at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The voice of cricket, Richie Benaud, described Gilchrist as the sweetest timer he had ever seen, and former Australian captain Bill Lawry claimed no Australia batsman, apart from Bradman, had been such a destructive influence on world attacks.

Gilchrist scored 113 off 120 balls to pulverise a weary Pakistan attack in the third Test, smashing 14 fours and five sixes.

With Ricky Ponting reaching his fourth Test double century (207), Australia marched to 568, a lead of 264.

Pakistan was 1-67, 197 behind, in its second innings when bad light terminated day three.

"I am not saying he is a better cricketer than (West Indies) Gary Sobers or those sort of blokes, but from an Australian point of view I don't think that anybody has done to world attacks what Gilchrist has done, apart from Bradman," Lawry said.

"Richie Benaud said on air today - and I was pleased to hear it - that he is the cleanest hitter he has ever seen. And included in that are guys like Ted Dexter (England), who was a tremendous striker of the ball, Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd (West Indies).

"Certainly since I have been watching I have never seen a guy hit the ball so cleanly and be so fearless and unselfish in his method.

"I used to enjoy Mark Waugh and Greg Chappell, but for pure entertainment and excitement I don't think anyone has come close to Gilchrist. Whatever they are paying him is not enough. He puts bums on seats.

"We have some great players in this side. Ricky Ponting, (Matthew) Hayden and (Justin) Langer, but once Gilchrist strikes the crease, if he survives you know Gilchrist is going to change the game in a session which he did in Perth (against Pakistan) and has done right through his career."

Gilchrist's progress has been such that he now has the same number of Test centuries (13) as Lawry, an outstanding opening batsman, from two fewer matches (65).

In a recent study performed by Wisden, Gilchrist was officially ordained as the fastest scorer of all-time among batsmen to face more than 1000 balls in Tests.

His stunning strike rate of 81 runs per 100 balls puts him ahead of India's Kapil Dev and England's Maurice Tate, with Bradman 16th on the list.

Bradman used a lighter bat than Gilchrist, whose force is accentuated because he grips the bat high up its handle, adding precious power.

Lismore-raised Gilchrist smashed five sixes yesterday and though it is almost a decade since he left Sydney for Perth, the locals here still consider him one of their own. And a very special one at that.

He received a thunderous welcome when he came to the crease yesterday and no bowler was safe from his fury. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria bowled as well to him as anyone, yet even he conceded 33 from 44 balls

.

Only Gilchrist could unleash an innings of such cannon power and then declare "I was a bit scratchy early on".

"It wasn't a wicket coming on as I would have liked early on, but that hook shot I attempted off Shoaib (Akhtar) switched me on a bit more and I started watching the ball more closely," Gilchrist said.

"I was trying to muscle my cover drives too hard so I wasn't timing them that well."

Only Bradman (12) has scored more double centuries for Australia than Ponting.

- ROBERT CRADDOCK