Gilchrist dazzles on biggest stage
Barbados - Wow! There was just no other way to describe with the highest score ever in a World Cup final.
After 149 runs, just 104 deliveries faced, 13 fours and a record-equalling eight sixes there seemed little doubt that Australia’s total – in a matched reduced to 38 overs per side – would be out of sight.
Muscular forcing shots to full deliveries were pinged into the sightscreen, drives off the front foot bisected fielders perfectly and there was the odd bit of luck that few great innings can be without.
After a miserable start to the day, which threatened to push the game into a reserve day, the mood was low-key around Kensington Oval, with the expectation of early swing and bounce from this wicket.
Chaminda Vaas must have been licking his lips at the prospect. Instead he was nursing his wounds after Gilchrist took 10 off successive balls in his second over.
The pitch had been tamed since its first appearance in the tournament and, given a start almost three hours later than scheduled, there was little movement in the air either.
Encouraged by the success of his early foray, Gilchrist looked to take on change bowler Dilhara Fernando and it was here he had his biggest slice of luck, the bowler putting down a difficult return chance at ankle height with the batsman on 31.
As if Fernando were not chastened enough, he was forced to watch his next three balls hit for 14, with a lofted six hitting the fire engine sitting on the long-on boundary.
Lusty blows into the leg side – where 10 of his fours and four sixes flew – were greeted by roars from the massive band of yellow-clad fans and the strains of Men at Work from the party stand DJ.
The scrabble for records lists began as Gilchrist celebrated a century opening stand with a huge hug for partner Matthew Hayden, who had contributed a scratchy 22.
Gilchrist had an opportunity to equal , scored against South Africa in the group stages.
On 94 from 65 he put so much power into a drive at Fernando that he lost hold of his bat and could have shattered his own stumps.
I missed in 2005 because I was in the queue for tea. It almost happened again.
While balancing carrot cake on a box of chicken and flying fish, I emerged into the open air to see Gilchrist slap Lasith Malinga through mid-off, leap, punch and kick the air then raise his bat to the delighted travelling band in the World Cup stand.
Reaching three figures from 72 deliveries he wiped from the record books.
Gilchrist was not done until he had become, on 111, just the 11th man to score 9,000 ODI runs, and then went on to pass Ricky Ponting’s 140 from four years ago, tying his skipper’s six count from that innings.
Gilchrist’s explosive innings was all the more surprising because he had endured an indifferent World Cup until now, managing two half centuries against smaller nations while Hayden grabbed the attention.
In his amazing return to form, though, he made sure of a share of the headlines for himself.
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adam gilchrists won australia the world cup with that performance, a brillaint entertainer & on that form theres no equal to him. great to see some aussie legends (gilly hayden ponting & mcgrath)making it 3 in a row. some of these players are the best 1 day players ever to have played the game, feel sorry for brett lee missing it all
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But only one Australian went beyond the 30s. Very disappointing.
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its going great for both the teams at the finals wish bothe teams all the best
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What an amazing innings; well played Gillie; more of the same in the future please! A truely spectacular and willow shattering batting performance which has gone a long way to winning the world cup for Australia (Unless there's a miracle for Sri Lanka or the Australian team have a 'mare after I write this, of course...)
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Great innings by a great player,hollow empty win in a final which sums up this world cup , a farse!
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i told you so..... smashed everyone and now smashed sri lanka in the final...
And when will the narrow minded anti-australian supporters finally have the intelligence to credit this australian team with some due respect.
We have catgerically taken apart all teams.... and our best bowler (Brett Lee) isn't even at the tournament.
Just think how we could have played if we were at full strength...
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Surely for the world cup final there should have been a reserve day so that the full match could take place. There was in earlier round.
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This WC started with bizarre situation……………and ends in the even bizarre situation!
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gilchrist ??
He is not better than cristiano ronaldo
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Hats off to Adam Gilchrist for his majestic performance when it mattered most yes on the biggest stage of them all in the World cup. He was carrying a slump which we all know that it temporary but to produce such performnace on such a day and moment is simply the mark of a genius and it was perfectly suitng for a player of his caliber to provide the brilliance today. If Australia needed someone to perform above the rest they always get one and it was the day for King Gillie
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This is shameful - Gilchrist innings was a masterpiece but to deny the opportunity to Sri Lanka in a WC final with 36 overs, in absymal lighting conditions, is the worst lowpoint in cricket I have ever experienced. The ICC need to hang their heads in shame and offer the potential of a rematch consisting of a full 50 overs to Sri Lanka.
Worst world cup ever and I hope it remains so for ever.
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If Australia had 50 overs they would of surpassed 400 surely ?
I think Sri Lanka would of lost even if they had 50 overs !
Got to hand it to Australia
They are the best
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Hah, Sri Lanka were going to lose anyway, before the light got bad.
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congratulations to Australia....they played well throughout the tournamnent.....however, this world cup was one of the most poorly organized world cups ever.....This manifested itself at today's final....how the hell did the sri lankan team and the umpires not know what was the required target.....Secondly, this game should have continued on the reserved day that was given because everyone knows that cricket is not played at that time (6:15pm) in the West Indies....and lastly, the Austrailians slowed the game considerbly.....well probaly that's their style or a game tactic....Thank God this tournament is over!!!!!!!
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well plyed gilchist.....u won da cup 4 aus.disapoointing 2 see this kind of a world cup final.would have been much more interesting if da conditions stayed evenly through out da match.sl did really well to hang in there...well played.aus not invicible they just won the toss and had the best conditions 4 battin
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(2) James, I don't know why you were disappointed that other than Gillie the others didn't knock up big scores. To start with Gillie played the leading role. You could see Haydon was deliberately turning over the strike to the man 'in the groove'. Once Gillie was out the team had enough wickets in hand to let loose which meant increased risk hence wickets fell. Here is the difference between the Aussies and the English. If Pietersen had come in for Australia he would have slowed the run rate down to protect his personal ambition of achieving a high score on a batters pitch.
I think this was a superb team performance.
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I'm waiting for the 'we was robbed' posts. Certainly the day ended in farce but the horses had well and truely bolted by then.
Cricket is an amazing team game where even with skill, experience and form chance can still play a major part. Many chances occurred today and both teams attempted to take advantage of them. Certainly the weather and light played a part. The SL skipper even mentioned the Duckworth Lewis possibility at the toss so it was clearly in his head throughout the game. The threat of Murali and Malawi amounted to little on a flat pitch and no swing. Run rate and wickets in hand were on both skippers minds during the SL innings and ultimately the Aussies were able to continue taking wickets and limit the run rate.
No one was robbed. Both teams played hard and clever cricket. I salute the SL players for saying after the game that the best team had won on the night.
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"And when will the narrow minded anti-australian supporters finally have the intelligence to credit this australian team with some due respect."
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rod....maybe I am a traitor.
As an Australian I don't get much enjoyment in watching Australia win without much competition. I want to enjoy a good game of cricket. This world cup has been a farce. As one of my friends (Australian) was saying, the commonwealth games was like watching a bunch of bullies beat the weak kids. I was hoping the World Cup Cricket series won't end up like that.
The Sri Lankans have at least added some credibility to this cup, and the Australians can feel like they actually earned this win.
Having said all that....I enjoyed seeing Gili notch up those spectacular runs....Cheers mate! and Thanks for the Cricket.
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Australia has just won the Duckworth Lewis cup of the world, why in the earth when there is an extra day, the game has to continue under the rain and darkness………………shame on ICC.
A magnificent run chase that was in the card was cut short by this bizarre Duckworth Lewis…………………….shame that players has to select their shots not looking at the pitch but looking at the cloud……….surely Jayasuria’s out has more to do with cloud & impending rain than the ordinary ball………………!
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Brilliant Gilchrist, but Sri Lanka were really seriously denied a level playing pitch. They were totally short-changed. They were beaten by crazy circumstances rather than by play. Nothing to crow about. This was an absolute total farce. Sri Lanka should get a replay. Australia are not fair world champions. Maybe they are best, but it hasn't been proven.
Shame on the cricket authorities!
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Sri Lanka got two "stinkers" from the umpire in the semi-final against New Zealand and survived. Dilshan and Silva suffered: the TV commentator called it a real "stinker" from umpire Koertzen.
In the final, the Sri Lankans were down but not out even after the heavens opened and Jayasuriya was bowled. However, it was another stinker from Bucknor which turned the tables. Clearly Mahela was not out, Sri Lanka would have taken it right down to the wire if their innings were disrupted by poor umpiring.
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A farcical ending to a farcical world cup. Surely it will be another 100 years before the carribean are asked to host another major sproting event. On another note, cutting the world cup by 7 days still makes it far too long, cut it to 12 teams over three weeks, make every match count and people might bother turning up to watch.
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To larry, im pretty sure they are the best maybe cause they are currently No1, and SA taking that spot for what a month was just a farse.
Australia won it, yes there were certain circumstances but you dont see Sri Lanka crying it up like most of you guys are, deal with it as aus have reigned supreme yet again.
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# At 12:02 AM on 29 Apr 2007, Ronaldo wrote:
"gilchrist ??
He is not better than cristiano ronaldo."
I didn't know Ronaldo played cricket???
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The Aussies weren't guilty of slowing the play down. That job was done by the weather. No rain - no need to dry the ball and spread saw dust in wet areas.
Had the game been a full 50 overs a side Australia would probably have amassed the first 400+ in a WC final. Sri Lanka were never going to win this match - to suggest otherwise is just sour grapes. Sri Lanka weren't denied the opportunity to win by anyone or anything other than the class of the opposition.
In the end it was appropriate that a farcical tournament produced a farcical final. The one positive thing that can be said about it is that the best team won. No sour grapes - just fact.
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a great performance from gilly and once again a great overall display of world class cricket from the mighty australians. Criticised a few months ago after losing both the commonwealth bank series to england and the chapell-hadllee trophy nz in embarrasment becomin the 1st australian side to lose in a white-washed series to nz n worse of all became the 1st aussie side to be chased down without claimin any wickets of the opposition, in doing so they were stripped of thier number 1 ranking over informed south africa....how insulting given what they hav achieved. however the aussies showed how never to mess with any australian sport team as a whole in its quest to win the world cup and punish those who haas hurt them the most and whoever stand in their way. they crushed england earlier in the world cup and demolished nz to its worse defeat in thier cricketing history. then there was south africa, a team considered by many as the world number 1 coming into the world cup, smashed twice by the aussies including in a semi-final just to let everyone know how good they are on the big stage. I must say i feel sorry for the sri lankans who fought bravely on the day that matters most and has what it takes to win the world cup had they play another country but can be forgiven for everybody is pretty much on the same boat when playing the mighty australians. thank you so much to the great glenn mc crath for all the memories, the greatest bowler i have ever seen along with the one and only shane warne. now that the world cup is over all eyes are on the 20/20 world cup in south africa later on in the year. sadly for the rest of the world that would be another silverware in the australian cabinet collection in melbourne. i just hope our all blacks can do the same in this years rugby world cup in france. and that is to step up when it matters most.
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Australia have not proven they are the best in the world? (Larry). Some people are truly detached from reality. Compare Australia's results with the next best team in this WC. Actually, compare Australia's results with everyone over the past 1, 2, 5, 10 years. How can you possibly come to the conclusion that Australia have not proven themselves the best? As if Sri Lanka were ever going to sustain the 8 runs per over in the final anyway. You don't have to like the Australian team but don't deny that they are light years ahead of the rest of the cricketing world.
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First Let me Congratulate Australia. They were the best team coming in and played like it throughout. They won every match convincingly. Now, let's test them all for steriods... just kidding you all don't get mad at me. it's West Indian humor (remember Ian Thorpe... just kidding, you all so sensitive).
Seriously, Australia played like champions and deserved to win. I was pulling for Sri Lanka and they did give it a try but it was just not their day to pull an upset. Nevertheless, they deserve to be in the finals and who knows if they had batted first...well, they would have lost by less, but they would have lost anyway.
Finally Marty...what a fitting end to this looooong CWC 2007 edition. Maybe next time pyjama cricket would be played in the day/night as it was meant to be and maybe the tournament would just be 30 days.
Anyway, thanks to Bangladesh and the Irish for lifting our spirits with their play. Thanks to Dwayne Laverock for that earthquake of a catch. Thanks to Gibbs for the six sixes in one over. Thanks to Malinga for that incredible 4 wickets in 4 balls and Thanks to Gilchrist for that blast of a century. Thanks to all the teams and all the volunteers. Thanks to the media and of course Thanks to all the fans who showed up.
And THANK YOU MARTY! We love you in Guyana and the West Indies and hope to see you again soon.
Cheers,
Breado
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Of all the 'sour grapes' posts on this blog, Mahesh at 2:55am takes the cake! Just remember that if the laws on bent arms weren't changed FOR JUST ONE PERSON (from 10 to 15 degrees), your little buddy Murali wouldn't even be playing....It's always easy to only point out the decisions that go against you....that's called being one eyed!
If Mahela was given not out (and it wasn't 'clearly' as you put it....hawkeye had it missing by barely anything!), what difference would it have made? You already needed over 10 runs an over.
We haven't lost a WC game for 8 years....you lost one last week!!!! That's the difference between being the best in the world and an also ran.....
Try and have a good day....I know I will!!!
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Well at the end Aussies won it SL put a brave contest..congratulations to both teams...
It is a pity that conditions were not fit-in for the final show...rain, no sunlight,bad weather conditions not suited for the game,expectation of more rain, uncertainty over play start or not, time, primary reduced overs, secondary reduced overs, Ducworth lewis application, unfair LBW decision to a key player like Mahela,lights on at the pavilion vs. darkness in the ground, bad light testings, offer of bad light....Did the nature mock the world cup final...ICC must pay serious attention on future tournaments' venue, weather, security & length of the period
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Does this final put egg on the face of those who gave the Aussie"oldtimers" no chance in this world cup? Too true blue.
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WINNERS are Grinner's!
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Great win by the boys, most dominant, good to see I wasn't missed, it's gonna be tough to get back into the team, guess Clarkey feels the same way. Gilly mate, you were just AWESOME with all respect to one of my idols, Sir Viv, the "MASTER BLASTER" title can now be shared. Boys, celebrate well and I'll look forward to seeing you in Sydney for a cup of tea or perhaps some other adult beverages on your return !
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adam gilchrists is better than christiano ronaldo. today gillie won the world cup for australia to add to his 3 consecutive world cups for his country. christiano ronaldo didnt win the world cup for portugal and future world cups remains to be seen. ronaldo is having a stunning season with man united but you cant judge a mans career on a single season. so i believe ronaldo is nowhere near gilchrist despite the amount of money he makes. i have nothing against the bloke but when you try and say hes better than perhaps the best wicket keeper in the world of all time than you stand corrected. however christiano ronaldo has a bright future ahead of him but like cricket, in football its the name in the front that matter's, not the one at the back.
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Hatss Off to the Mighty Australians.. They are absolutely unbeatable. They deserve to the Champions all the time!
This time we realy didnt enjoy the telecast here in india.. The channel was so busy showing commercials that the fun of cricket was totally lost. even wen th bowlers was taking their run up, the channel use to show commercials.. hope to not see anymore cricket on that channel.
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yawn
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What's Ronaldo's average? I would be surprised if it was anywhere near Gillies. No question in my mind that Gillie is a better cricketer than Ronaldo.
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Frankly I've tended to see Gilchrist as the weak of the Aussie line up in recent years, but fair play when he gets his eye in he can completely distroy you and with Australia's strength in depth its well worth the risk.
As for Australia themselves I feel kind of sorry for them, their performances over the last 3 World Cups would have been good enough to win any World Cup but instead of being remembered as one of the greatest World Cup performances they will only be remembered as the winners of a dire tournament.
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What I admire most about Gilchrist is that when he is put he never waits on the umpire ' HE WALKS '
To me thats always a sign of a great player [ like Brian Lara ] He walks also. They are no cheats.
Maybe its because in Gilchrist has [ christ ] and Brian has [ brain ]
Names do have meaning.
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I don’t understand why some people still actually think that SL were hard done by.
The reality is the in Super 8’s Australia bowled out a FULL STRENGTH SL batting line in less than 50 overs for only 226. They just don’t have the same depth of batting than Australia.
If they were silly enough not to put in there best bowlers the only conclusion is this was a match they wanted to loose. I was baffled by this too.
Even with the addition of their best bowlers SL still could not bowl out Australia
Australia were a better team during the tournament and on the day and have every right to be champions. There were better prepared physically and mentally.
Congratulations to them and the SL team. I wish the SL fans would take example of Jayawardene in the post match remarks.
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Birdie, my line about only one Australian getting beyond the 30s was tongue in cheek.
Much as I would have liked to see Sri Lanka win it at the end, I have no doubts that the Aussie team is the best at present, and up with the greatest teams in cricketing history. How could they have done any better?
And Gilchrist's innings - in a final, in a tournament in which he hasn't been at his best, when he'd been out cheaply in his previous knock - was beyond superlatives.
That is hard for me, as an England supporter, to say, but why deny it?
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Well done Ozzies. By far and away the best team of the tournament.
Sri Lanka's bowlers had no chance, not even the great Murali.
Shame on the ICC. They thought they were the equals of the IOC and FIFA, but the ICC has no idea of how to run a proper tournament.
Shame on the ICC for listening to all the shysters associated with the sponsors who ruined the match for the fans with searches before entry to the grounds. Was it worth it?
Malcolm Speed must resign.
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Well done to the Aussies. What a world class performance in trying circumstances. they kept their professionalism despite the farsicle ending. They are masters at the game and no one in the cricket world can deny that, no matter how much it may hurt some of you to admit. To the sour grapes out there, no one can maintain such a consistent standard as the Australians demonstrated just by chance or luck. Well done to the Sri Lankans, you have nothing to be ashamed of.
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Sri Lanka made the first mistake during the selection,ferveez maharoof not selected dilhara given more than 70 runs for his 8 overs,also from upul Tharanga and russel arnold nothing to contribute their team,unlucky mahela and the team finaly lost................however Australia shown us professional cricket once again..........congratulation!!!!!!! ponting and the team.........well done.........
Sri Lankan
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Its funny that some Australian supporters would absolutely refuse to acknowledge that Sri Lanka did not have a fair chance at chasing the Australian total no matter how big it was, they did not have a fair chance. A. They batted on a wet pitch which as a result give uneven bounce as seen in Jayasuriya's dismissal. B. They batted in poor light. C. They batted in rain which would further decrease visibility. What people must understand is that in the Final of a major sporting event, there should be no question as to whom the winner is, this should be clear. Persons are jumping to the conclusion that Australia would win because they were dominant throughout, (past peformance), this is a Final and as seen throughout history in any type of sporting event, anything can happen, the underdogs sometimes win, because SL did not get a fair chance at chasing the AUS total, I am not convinced that AUS is invincible as many think.
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Really We Enjoyed Adam Gilchrist's GAME ,Superb GAME
Special Congrats to ADAMS and also to AUSTRALIA TEAM Members
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For all that has been said about this world cup being well not one of the best... Wasn't it befitting that one of the few guys who had "walked" in recent times delivered the goods when it mattered...
Its still a Gentleman's game. Isn't it..??
Go Gilchrist.. May his tribe incease!!
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once again Australia proved to be the best cricket team ever.entered the world cup having lost to NZ and ENG, they proved to perform when it matters the most.as for gilchrist what a fine innings
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What a Cricket Australia played,it was wonderfull ,any Captain in Cricket world wants Australian team .well done Australia .Any day and any time ,I want Austrlian team to win always
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I just read that Gilchrist's superb knock was "aided" by a squash ball stuffed into his glove.
This is akin to fixing a spring in the glove and would obviously greatly help in propelling the ball at a great speed towards the boundary for many fours and sixes!
Is this type of "aid" legally allowed in cricketing rules? Or, is it merely unsportsmanlike behavior? What would ICC's opinion be about such "aids" to enhance a batsman's performance?
It was obvious that Gilchrist's record-breaking knock seriously affected morale and mental state of the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders. None of the other Australian batsmen performed anywhere close to Gilchrist's outstanding batting display. It is sad to realize that it was "aided" along by a springy squash ball hidden inside his glove!
In fact the outcome of the game may have been completely different if Adam Gilchrist had not chosen to leverage the assistance of a squash ball to power along his batting...It is indeed such a shame that such a doubt will now forever hang over his performance and the resulting WC final outcome (ignoring complications introduced by the inclement weather).
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Thank God its over .. Congrats to Gilchrist, I mean Australia .. lol .. and yes Congrats to Sri-Lanka .. they should be happy that they came this far, but definitely they could have done better, but they didnt. And THIS IS THE WORST WOLD CUP I HAVE EVER SEEN. Umpiring, weather, light .. everything @*#$ed to the bone. I hope things would get better for cricket in the future.
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WELL DONE GILCHRIST !! YOU ARE THE REASON WHY AUS WON.
AND HATS OFF TO OUR SRI-LANKANS. DESPITE THE BITTERNESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU FOUGHT BACK.
WE HOPED & PRAYED THAT SL WOULD WIN. BUT WHAT WE ALL WANTED WAS A CLOSE MATCH.
YES IT IS AN OUTDOOR GAME & YES THESE THINGS HAPPEN, BUT ITS THE WORLD CUP DAMMIT.
THE ICC PUNDITS SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
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Gilly was carrying a slump which we all know that it temporary but to produce such performnace on such a day and moment is simply the mark of a genius and it was perfectly suitng for a player of his caliber to provide the brilliance today. If Australia needed someone to perform above the rest they always get one and it was the day for King Gillie
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