Gilly: A true sporting hero (From Your Local Guardian)

Gilly: A true sporting hero

10:41am Monday 25th February 2008

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Memories of Australia Day are generally somewhat fuzzy but January 26, 2008, will be forever etched in my mind as the day Adam Gilchrist decided to hang up his gloves.

The news, announced during Australia's final Test against India at Adelaide Oval, sparked plenty of eulogising about Gilly, pioneering wicketkeeper/batsman, but, to me, he will always be Gilly, the nicest man in world sport.

With the New South Wales-born leftie having amassed 5,570 runs and a world record 416 dismissals in 96 Tests, I am far from being the only hack to have interviewed him. But I would hazard a guess that I might have been the lowest-profile one to do so.

I was about seventh months into my cadetship when Gilly came to Albany, on the south coast of Western Australia, in mid-1998 to speak at a sportsmen's dinner being hosted by a local Aussie Rules club.

He was an established member of Steve Waugh's limited- over side and no doubt had plenty of demands on his time, yet was more than happy to spend an hour answering the questions of a green, somewhat intimidated, young sports reporter.

Hence, my high opinion of him was established long before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, when Gilly did the kind of thing that sets him apart from other international cricketers of his generation.

With Australia's semi-final against Sri Lanka in the balance - and despite having been given not out by umpire Rudi Koertzen - Gilly walked, knowing he had edged the ball on to his pads before a catch was claimed.

It was a gentlemanly act that had Waugh and Ricky Ponting both declaring they would never encourage it from the Aussie team, but Gilly stuck to his guns and continued to play the sport in the spirit that its forefathers had intended.

Indeed, given the competitive environment in which he found himself, the way he conducted himself was even more admirable.

Typically, Gilly was extremely humble in retirement, saying the time was right for Brad Haddin to take his place in the national team.

He has always seen the bigger picture, and continues to offer an annual scholarship for a young cricketer at Richmond Cricket Club, having spent a season there very early in his career.

It is only right that Adam Craig Gilchrist goes down in history as the game's most destructive wicketkeeper/ batsman. He will also always be remembered as a top bloke.

* This was published in the Richmond & Twickenham Times on Friday, February 2.