The Ashes Test at the WACA in 2006 probably doesn't bring back happy memories for English cricket fans. After having relinquished the Ashes just 462 days earlier - the briefest custody in history - Australia resoundingly regained the urn by winning by 206 runs to go 3-0 up in the series.
Despite this, there was one stupendous blitzkreig of a batting performance that crossed even this most partisan of boundaries: Adam Gilchrist's spectacular hundred off only 57 balls - the second quickest ever in Tests by only one ball to Viv Richards effort at St Johns in 1985/86. The first fifty was a fairly sedate affair - coming as it did off 40 balls, but the next 50 came up in whirlwind fashion off just 17 balls and included a sequence of 26646 off one Monty Panesar over.
As an England fan it was initially a fairly deflating experience, but as Gilchrist's majestic innings reached its zenith one was able to forget for a moment that it was against England and watch the memorable spectacle solely as a cricket fan.
This knock may have been his most brutal in tests, but let's be honest Gilchrist served up a plethora of similarly exhiliarting innings during his tenure in Australia's all-conquering side - his 149 at Hobart against Pakistan and the 204 versus South Africa at Johannesburg. In our opinion, he is the greatest wicketkeeper/batsman in cricket history being equally adept at coming in at 400/5 or 100/5: the results were invariably the same - a blistering knock to either embellish or regenerate an Australian innings.
England - especially Andrew Flintoff - may have got the better of him in 2005, but as this knock in Perth showed Gilchrist was not one to be cowed. Even this Englishman has to acknowledge that Gilchrist was a hero - the fact that he walked when given not out in a World Cup semi-final just emphasises that undeniable fact even more.
Where next?
Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage
Check out all our other Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes
All-time Australian Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin Kings
wow...thanks for reminding me of that innings...i doubt there will be another keeper-batsman quite like him...
Posted by: tracerbullet007 | Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 05:42
He is the best. I never forget her name. Thanks ;)
Posted by: Andy Phil | Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 06:44
Matt Prior certainly doesnt look like emulating him based on todays display
Posted by: The Reverse Sweep | Friday, December 17, 2010 at 12:47