Never let it be said Adam
Gilchrist doesn't have a sense of occasion, or the ability to shine
when it is needed most.
Gilchrist strode to the crease at the MCG last night for his 31st
and last one-day international innings on world cricket's biggest
stage.
He walked out before 22,524 people -- many of whom had come purely
to see him play there for the last time -- to a roar of approval.
But the gloveman also faced expectation as he and James Hopes looked
to run down a fairly
modest Sri
Lankan total of 221.
What unfolded was sheer magic.
Gilchrist unleashed one of those mind-numbing innings that had even the
Sri Lankan fans gasping in awe.
The 36-year-old speared the fifth ball of the innings past point to the
fence with a classic square drive off Lasith Malinga and served notice
that the Gilly show had begun.
It lasted 78 minutes and for those who watched, will
remain the perfect memory of a departing champion who has 285
limited-over internationals to his name and who is largely
responsible for Australia winning the past three World Cups.
Gilchrist smashed 11 fours and two sixes to score 83 off just 50
deliveries and while the Cinderella exit of a farewell century
wasn't to be, near enough was good enough for all and sundry,
including Gilly.
Closing in on what would have been a 17th one-day ton, Gilchrist was
caught at long off, leaving Australia at a comfortable 2-113 in only
the 17th over.
As he walked off to a standing ovation, he stopped 10m from the members'
gate, turned and raised his arms in the air and saluted goodbye with the
wide smile of a contented man.
Perhaps symbolically, what immediately followed underlined the uncertainty
of Australia's future in one-day cricket without Gilly at the top of the
order.
It was like Australia wasn't sure what to do without him as it lost 5-8 in
34 balls as Michael Clarke (0), skipper Ricky Ponting (1), Andrew Symonds
(0) and then Brad Haddin (7) chased him into the dressing room.
