Though its been almost two weeks since the commonwealth bank series got over,the series is still on when it comes to blogs.One man who can never be forgotten is the man who was calling it a day-when it comes to international cricket. Adam Gilchrist.
Though the series was not a memorable one for Australia when it came to answering questions about the ethics of the game,the past record and contribution of this man should never be forgotten.He was the one who walked off the field when he was suspicious about his decision weather out or not out!this was in the first semi finals of the 2003 World Cup against Sri lanka.The pitch on which Australia was batting then had bitter memories against England & New Zealand which had seen their batting tumble.in such a situation,Gilchrist never thought of the consequences before choosing to walk.
The man is known for his explosive batting in addition to his wicket keeping magic.He held the record for the most dismissals by a wicket keeper in tests(416) surpassing South Africa's Mark Boucher(who has reclaimed the record after Gilchrist retired).Irrespective of the wicket,opposition,pressure..Gilchrist always tends to fire with the bat.The man almost snatched a win against India in the TVS Cup 2003 involving New Zealand,when he scored 83 off 79 balls at Gwalior.
Some must watch videos of his include:
1)The second fastest hundred against England.
2)149 off 104 balls in the finals of the 2007 WC against Sri Lanka.
3)First ever to hit a 100th six in tests.
4)172 against Zimbabwe in the VB Series 2003/04
5)118 vs Sri Lanka at W.A.C.A......
6)122 off 91 balls against Sri Lanka
Though not of any great consequence,the twelfth ODI match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Melbourne turned out to be a christmas for both the teams,for both Australia and Sri Lanka exchanged gifts between each other.
It all started with Sri Lanka winning the toss and electing to bat first for the first time in the series against Australia.The Sri Lankan batting going on as usual,with hardly any firing from the Sri lankan batsmen.Sri Lanka-who had lost three earlier matches to Australia was not at all expected to come back harsh at the Australians by grabbing a consolation win at Melbourne.
For a change,Sri Lankans batted first in the match.But,the result being the same,ie the team batting first winning the contest.It was something special for both the teams out there.Firstly for Sanath Jayasuriya-the man who is playing his last match on the Australian soil(or probably his last series or match) got his 249th six when he cleared the ropes off the bowling of Brett Lee.And what more...the man got his first wicket in the series and that too of his first ball.And not less for Muttiah Muralitharan who was also playing his last match on Australian soil.The man picked up 2/42..the best against Australia this series.
Next was that of Adam Gilchrist-who for some reasons had planned to quit international cricket all of a sudden was found in a punishing mood altogether,belting 83 runs of just 50 balls.It looked as though the Sri lankans would be disappointed this time too.But,when the rest of the Australian players had planned to gift the match to the Sri Lankans,what more has Gilchrist got to do with it?
At the end of the day,Sri Lanka had something to take away,as they snatched narrow 13run win against Australia,three times after losing to the same even after some initial success with the ball.As deserved,Adam Gilchrist was awarded the man of the match for his astonishing innings.Though it was too late for Sri Lanka,it was some consolation for the Sri Lankan team which had lost all chances to enter the finals.The win can be better said to be Australia's loss rather than a Sri Lankan win.
Well Sri Lanka,this time the Australians have genourously donated a match after the last one was cut short due to rain.Else,an Australia-Sri Lanka finals would not be a wrong statement.
Related Videos:
Part1 Part2 Part3 Part4 Part5 Part6 Part7 Part8 Part9
A third time in the series the same feat has been repeated by the Sri Lankan cricket team against Australia.With the required total being lesser compared to the previous matches,the Sri Lankans batted brilliantly to see their performance deteriorate each time their batsmen went on to face the Aussie bowlers.And this time,a target of less than 200 was found enough for the Aussies to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen.
I doubt!Was this the team that were said to be a perfect finalists in the 2007 World Cup to defeat the Aussies?Likewise,the Sri lankan batsmen were considered to be far below par compared to the Aussies.But,such a batting debacle??Oh my god!With each and every match,it was like"Next Time".But,when exactly?
Each time when I expect the Aussies to be defeated after the Sri Lankan bowlers do a fantastic job,the only thing I get to see is a bigger disappointment in Sri Lankan batting.When will the Sri Lankans learn?With every other team's performance being so hopeless,there lies the answer as to why the Australians are still the most favoured team by betters...Kudos to U-Aussies!!!
Related Videos:
Part1 Part2 Part3 Part4 Part5
February 22nd 2004:The second ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia.
The match witnessed some heroics from the Sri Lankan cricket team.Andrew Symonds was given out leg before by umpire Billy Bowden off the bowling of Chaminda Vass to a delivery which Symonds had snikked.But,there was something from the Sri Lankan cricket team that deserved a pat on their back.Once the team was aware that Symonds had a slight inside edge on the ball,Sri Lankans showed their sportive spirit by calling Symonds back to the crease.
February 15th 2008:The 6th ODI between Sl and Aus
The same Symonds who was given life by the Sri Lankan team four years ago was found to forget the lessons he was supposed to have learnt from the Sri Lankan team.With Sri lanka in a dominating position,it seemed as though Symonds had found no other way of getting back to the game other fouling.A superb dive to grab a catch.But,the ball was found to have touched the ground before Symonds started appealing.
Full marks for Symonds for going by the lessons taught by his captain Ricky Ponting in the Sydney test against India on January 3rd 2008."Everything is fair in love and war"...So.."Is cricket equivalent to love or war?"
After much criticisms from all over the world by cricket lovers,Australian cricket team members should have learnt their lessons by not repeating the Sydney test episode once more.But,the way Symonds reacted the other day was just rediculous.These thick skinned Aussies are never bound to improve I beleive..
Well Aussies...i have a suggesion for you...after retiring you better cast your eyes on coaching teams with a difference by coaching them not only in techniques,but also on cheating and fouling.Once again "SHAME ON YOU GUYS"
Everytime I write a post on Sri Lankan cricket,they've decided to prove me wrong I beleive.This is the second time I've mistaken.And this time it is for the wrong reasons. The team which was found to dominate with the bat in the one dayer against India at Canberra.But,the same team was found to struggle in the one dayer against Australia at W.A.C.A.
And especially Jayasuriya-who was in much praise for his knock against India was found to flop once again with the bat.The so called "Matara Mauler" scored just 11(14b,2x4).It looked as though the Sri Lankans were back to their basics of losing. The team did bowl well to get the Aussies all out for a score of less than 250.But,their batting never supported the bowlers.
It all looked as though the Sri Lankans would grab an upset win over the world champs,when their batting opened.The team was found to put up 71 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in just 10 overs.But,at the end the team total couldn't even exceed 200 runs.Sri Lankans get too carried away after their limited success.This was the problem the team faced.
This is the second time it has happenned for the Sri Lankans.Losing 7 wickets for a score of just over 100 is something not acceptable.There was some consolation however for Sangakkara who once again fought a losing battle-scoring 80 off 114 balls.The rest of the team had no option but to behave as mute spectators watching the team's batting collapse.
Rather than blaming the teams like Sri Lanka for their dismal performance,lets curse ourselves for expecting something better from those teams who at most times are bound to disappoint.Have your say???
It was just frustrating for cricket fans and especially Sri Lankan fans all over the world.The team never looked like the one which made to the finals of the ICC World Cup 2007.The team was all for praise after restricting the Aussies to a modest total of just a run rate of above 5.0 an over.But,that didn't last much longer.The team received the same treatment by the Aussie bowlers back with interest.
The team was bundled out for a modest score of 125.The defeat was just unacceptable as the team couldn't even bat for more than 31 overs.Only four of them could register scores above ten.All cheers to Kumara Sangakkara who fought a lone losing battle scoring 42(41b,7X4).The most foolish thing that could be seen is the inclusion of veteran Sanath Jayasuria,who despite of his amazing stats,is found to struggle on the field in all parts of the game.
Sanath was solely responsible for the defeats against Pakistan and Australia in the world T20 championship,where he entered the record books for conceding 64 runs off his four overs-which is the highest conceded by any bowler in that tourney!A greater fool is his captain Mahela Jayawardane who failed to recognize such an opposition friendly talent in him.Amazing..isn't it?
Its frustrating to see so hapless selection process going on all over the world.With the ongoing CB Series,the performance of Australia is not considered to be that good-when it was compared to their previous WC wins.Teams like West Indies and England are there only to complete formalities.Then we have teams like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh who are not even considered as opponents.Currently the teams performing at their best could be India,South Africa and New Zealand(to some extent).
Is there still some juice left in word cricket that the ICC thinks of globalising cricket -when the existing teams put up a dismal performance.Its advisible for the ICC to ask weather the teams are really interested in playing cricket.If not,the sole loser is not only the ICC,but the game of cricket itself...
