Adam Gilchrist has scored just one duck in the 30 World Cup games that he has played. And that happens to be the only game the Aussies have lost in the last three World Cups. His World Cup final record before West Indies 2007 was intimidating. He scored 54 from 36 balls in 1999 and 57 from 47 balls in 2003. Probably playing his last World Cup, he played a knock that just wasn’t his best but, maybe, the most dominating ever in a World Cup.

His 104-ball 149 meant that Sri Lanka seemed ill-equipped to stop the Aussie barrage, who finished at 281 for four in the rain-curtailed game.

The game that was said to be a clash between the best bowling attack and the best batting line-up proved to be a meaningless match because one man thought of suddenly raising the standard of his game that added to the collective muscle of his team.

With his long-time partner Matthew Hayden in fine form and topping the batting charts, Gilchrist had taken a back seat. He was seen as the sidekick in this hit pairng. But many saw this coming as a number of Aussie fans that one met on the streets, who frequently confuse the large Indian media contingent to Sri Lankan supporters, say “if it’s the final, it has to be Gilly.”

It was the same opinion even former cricketers had. South African wicket-keeper of yesteryears Dave Richardson had seen it coming.

... contd.