And Gilly Walked


Didn’t take much to get him to do his swansong, did it? A few dropped chances, self appointed critics calling for his head and out walked the man who could have easily blazed victories for Australia for at least two more seasons. That act pretty much sums up a simple family man who loved to give the ball a resounding thump and had gloves that could grab passing thoughts, not to say the red cherry, with alacrity.
In the team of seasoned street gangsters that he was part of, he had a cardinal like presence. Not one to claim a wrong dismissal and not one to let go off a right one. He embarrassed his rather greedy team mates on more than one occasion by not lending vociferous support to their dubious appeals for that all important wicket. He wore his conscience on his glove and however hard something thudded into it, the glove would remain unmoved. So when he did appeal, and was he loud, the umpires could trust him with the judgment and not just the appeal (a certain Mr Dravid might vehemently disagree but we all know Gilly never lies).
He transformed from Dr Jekyll to Mr. Hyde the moment you handed him the willow. As the Sri Lankan team discovered at the World Cup final and most bowlers have on one occasion or the other, the battle with Gilly’s bat is one of hope. He is the master of dominance, one where the bowler is a minor cast and fielder a mute spectator. Gilly’s strokes usually scorch their route to the advertising boards or describe projectile equations of all kinds, parabolic and non parabolic while they send spectators scampering to catch them in the stands. There is scant respect for either rookie or legend as Monty and Murali will tell you. The only time he provides respite is when he goes to the non striking end, albeit only temporary.
Gilly has never waited for anyone to have the last word on his life. When batting he walked when he knew it was out, and now he walked when he felt his time was up. Hats off to one of the best human beings of modern day cricket. By the way, he was a genius too.

Comments

The In-Depth Blog said…
True, the cricketing world is going to miss this maestro. Really, class apart.
January 29, 2008 3:47 pm
Ajith said…
True Abhishek...this is one guy on my all time favorite list
January 29, 2008 3:59 pm
Shitij said…
the sensational southpaw hangs his shoes!...i always hated him, reason is simple enough - i love my country and i love our cricket and he was one man who haunted the indian team. With him around it used to be a massacre of opposition:) but all said would agree with both abhishek and you...in a game which is loosing 'gentlemen' faster than the speed of thought, his presence will be missed:) as always well articulated blog..keep it up! am sharing it with the head of product in HT...last time i heard they were looking for a journo to sketch semantics for their main entertainment supplement:)
February 04, 2008 11:16 am
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