Gilchrist's call made just at the right time

'DISMISS the old horse in good time, lest he fail in the lists and the spectators laugh." Adam Gilchrist may not be aware of Horace, the ancient Roman poet and philosopher, but in announcing his immediate retirement from all cricket at the end of this final Test and one day series against India, he has certainly heeded his advice.

For Gilchrist is not to be laughed at yet, probably not ever considering his record since debuting in 1996 in one-day cricket and Test matches in 1999, but in recent times his glove work has deteriorated and his thunderbolt contributions with the bat have become more sporadic.

This series has proved particularly difficult behind the sticks. In Sydney he dropped two easy chances and in the first innings at Adelaide a regulation edge that a club keeper would have pouched, but we must not remember his career for the mistakes made late in the piece. Instead, we should celebrate the greatest wicket-keeper batsman the game has seen.

Now even the most biased supporter would never claim that title because of Gilchrist's glove work. That has at best been good and at worst occasionally cringe-worthy. His skill was to ensure it was mostly decent for so long particularly when keeping to the leg-spin of Shane Warne and, despite becoming the record holder for dismissals (414) on Friday, his real importance lay with the willow. As a No.7 in Test cricket he averages 47 and has scored, or to be more precise smote, 17 centuries. That is the record of a high-class top-order batsman, not one who wields the gauntlets and is hoped to contribute a few runs towards the end of the innings.

That was the job of the keeper until Gilchrist came along but his talent changed the game.

It started in his very first Test against Pakistan. He had controversially replaced Ian Healy and the local Queensland crowd were not happy at the demise of their man for the upstart from West Australia. Then he smashed 81 in 88 balls and everyone started asking why it had taken so long to pick him. In the very next Test, in partnership with Justin Langer, he won an improbable victory chasing 369 with a scintillating undefeated 149.

In more recent times there was the destructive century in the World Cup final in April, an innings made with half a squash ball in his top-hand glove to help technique, and during last year's Ashes the second-fastest century ever in Test cricket when he smashed England all round the WACA. That was the finest display of clean hitting I have ever witnessed and poor old Monty Panesar suffered terribly as Gilchrist kept slog-sweeping him deep into the seats.

He was a man who could empty bars, which is as good an epitaph for a cricketing career as any player should wish for. But he would want a series win to see him out and that depends on himself and a few others tomorrow.

The pitch in Adelaide is still good but there are hints that it is starting to wear and break, which means Ricky Ponting, still in situ after a most disciplined innings, must demand a score towards 600 from his team. They certainly started well as the returning Matthew Hayden scored his 30th Test century. It was his usual fare, belligerent driving and imposing cuts and much needed. The worth of some is only obvious in their absence and that was the case for Hayden in Perth. He may be a difficult man to warm to – there is something odd about his devout religious beliefs sitting alongside his snarling, sledging cricketing personality – but his influence on both his own side and opposition cannot be overstated.

The fact remains, though, that Australia will not want to chase 250 in the final innings when the bounce will be erratic and with Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble threatening with catchers hovering close to the bat.

Adelaide is a most curious ground as sides can bat first, amass a huge score and still lose. England did it last year when Shane Warne made a mockery of their first innings 551 by bowling them into a tailspin on the fourth day and fifth morning and back in 2003-4, India recovered from conceding 556 in the first innings to win by chasing a difficult 232 on the final day.

That is why neither side is entirely happy or distressed at the moment. One mad session could render the previous three days' toil redundant.

There is no Warne this year – he is well ensconced in his new career as a poker player – to wreak havoc but, after the shambles of Sydney, Australia will not want to give India the slightest chance of levelling the series and returning home as conquering heroes only thwarted by cheating.

That would prove unhealthy for the game and it is to the credit of both sets of players that, since Sydney, the cricket has been allowed to flourish and has proved riveting viewing.

All that remains is for Gilchrist to sign off in spectacular fashion.

Time, the stealthiest thief of all, has caught up with him but there are two days left for the world of cricket to enjoy one of it's greatest ever exponents. But if future players take anything form his career, let us hope it is his belief in walking when out and playing fair.