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Gilly's 63-ball ton

Source: The Daily Telegraph - November 18, 2006

Just when we feared he could be a fading force, Adam Gilchrist revisited his glory days yesterday with a cyclonic century against Queensland.

Gilchrist struck a 63-ball century and finished with 131 off 95 balls as he shredded a well-credentialled Queensland attack for Western Australia in a one-day match at the WACA.

Thanks to Gilchrist, WA reached a mammoth 6-340 from 50 overs.

It was the second fastest century in Australian domestic cricket behind Adam Voges' effort against NSW at North Sydney in 2004-05, which came one ball quicker.

Remarkably, early in the innings, Gilchrist played second fiddle to a rampant Justin Langer who raced to his half century off just 26 balls. But once Langer was dismissed Gilchrist let loose with a furious assault and most of the bowlers suffered.

The first 50 of the innings whizzed by in just six overs and Gilchrist reached his in just 41 balls then, incredibly, he rocketed to his century off just another 22.

He reached three figues with his third six and 19th boundary of an innings which included a starburst of stunning strokes.

Gilchrist's knock ended when he skied James Hopes to Jimmy Maher. Since the start of last year's Ashes series Gilchrist had averaged just 25 in Test cricket, about half of his traditional standard throughout his career.

He has just turned 35 and there are fears he is not the batsman he once was and that his technical soft spots are more easily exploited by bowlers seeking revenge for his six years of world domination.

But yesterday's innings will be noted with interest by the England camp who had his measure in the Ashes series last year but must now feel that a Gilchrist revival is imminent.

All of the bowlers suffered at his hands.

Andrew Bichel went for 23 runs off his first two overs and Andrew Symonds was also caned by Gilchrist with 67 runs flowing from his seven overs.

Chris Simpson's eight overs cost 62 with the only man to escape the carnage being allrounder Shane Watson, who bowled 51. overs for 17 before going off injured.

The bitter memory of the last Ashes series is one of many motivating factors for Gilchrist to hit top form.

"My worst feeling of the Ashes was day one at Old Trafford because I take great pride in my keeping and I had a bad day, a really bad day," he said as he recalled the moment he dropped England skipper Michael Vaughan.

Vaughan was on 41. he made 166.

"It was disappointing on the final day of the series to concede the Ashes. It was there that the challenge was laid down and it's great we are almost there again now," he added.

Another goal is is passing Marsh's mark of 355 Test dismissals.

Gilchrist needs just one scalp at the Gabba next week to soar past the figure which stood as a world record until Healy (395 dismissals) eclipsed it.

- ROBERT CRADDOCK