indianexpress.com :: 'Gilly's exit to hurt more than Warne, McGrath'

'Gilly's exit to hurt more than Warne, McGrath'

Agencies

Posted online: Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 1310 hrs IST

Melbourne, January 27:
Australia's former coach John Buchanan reckons Adam Gilchrist's exit might prove a bigger loss for the team than the retirement of bowling greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

As the entire country struggles to come to terms with Gilchrist's sudden decision to quit Test cricket after the ongoing match against India and retire from ODIs after the subsequent tri-series, Buchanan felt the void would be difficult to fill.

"Possibly his loss is more than even Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath," Buchanan told Cricinfo.

"What Adam Gilchrist delighted me was his sense of balance as a player in sport played at the highest level," he said.

Buchanan coached Gilchrist almost throughout his illustrious career and the former coach said he was touched by his ward's gesture of calling him to inform about the decision.

"He didn't need to do that but I certainly appreciated his gesture. I admired him as a person, as a cricketer and as a father. His contribution to Australian and world cricket was incredible," Buchanan said.

"He set benchmarks for wicketkeeper-batsmen and in general to cricketers. He could change games with a drop of hat in any form of the game. His character as a person, his contribution to the captain and the team culture even exceeded his contributions on the field," he said.

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'Gilly's exit to hurt more than Warne, McGrath' Agencies Posted online: Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 1310 hrs IST Melbourne, January 27: Australia's former coach John Buchanan reckons Adam Gilchrist's exit might prove a bigger loss for the team than the retirement of bowling greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. As the entire country struggles to come to terms with Gilchrist's sudden decision to quit Test cricket after the ongoing match against India and retire from ODIs after the subsequent tri-series, Buchanan felt the void would be difficult to fill. "Possibly his loss is more than even Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath," Buchanan told Cricinfo. "What Adam Gilchrist delighted me was his sense of balance as a player in sport played at the highest level," he said. Buchanan coached Gilchrist almost throughout his illustrious career and the former coach said he was touched by his ward's gesture of calling him to inform about the decision. "He didn't need to do that but I certainly appreciated his gesture. I admired him as a person, as a cricketer and as a father. His contribution to Australian and world cricket was incredible," Buchanan said. "He set benchmarks for wicketkeeper-batsmen and in general to cricketers. He could change games with a drop of hat in any form of the game. His character as a person, his contribution to the captain and the team culture even exceeded his contributions on the field," he said.