The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Gilchrist’s brilliance as a stumper

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Friday, Oct 12, 2007
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Gilchrist’s brilliance as a stumper

Vadodara: The Walker who loves to sprint with the willow is a reliable wicketkeeper as well. In fact, he can be brilliant with the big gloves.

When Adam Gilchrist snaffled up six catches to equal the ODI record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in an innings, it was the fifth time that he had achieved the feat.

In fact, it was Gilchrist who first set the record of six victims in an innings against South Africa in Cape Town, 2000. His feat was a new benchmark for the ’keepers of the world.

Subsequently, Gilchrist, rated the best contemporary wicketkeeper by Indian ’keeping legend Syed Kirmani, has repeated the feat against England (Sydney, 2003), Namibia (Potchefstroom, 2003), Sri Lanka (Colombo, 2004) and now, India (Vadodara).

Still a match-winner

He still has the energy to whip up an innings of substance and strokes as an opener after keeping wickets in energy sapping conditions. He still is a match-winner.

India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni, South Africa’s Mark Boucher, West Indies’ Ridley Jacobs and England’s Alec Stewart are the other wicketkeepers with six dismissals in an ODI innings.

Dhoni came up with the record-equalling performance during India’s win over England at Leeds this season.

Aussie legend Rodney Marsh was the first wicketkeeper to figure in five dismissals. His display was against England at Leeds in 1981. Gilchrist broke this mark nineteen years later.

Who would snaffle up the elusive No. 7? Gilchrist is the favourite. — Special Correspondent

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