The legendary gloveman doesn't believe having different 'keepers for different formats is a disruption
Gilchrist happy with 'keeping arrangement
Champion wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist says he sees no reason why Australia’s two national gloveman can’t share the ‘keeping duties across cricket’s three formats.
NSW’s Peter Nevill currently stands behind the stumps in Test and T20 internationals for Australia, while Victorian Matthew Wade takes the gloves in 50-over cricket.
Nevill is widely regarded as the sharpest gloveman in the country, but it’s Wade’s explosive ability and versatility with the bat that sees him in the one-day outfit.
While both players have expressed the desire to play in all three formats, Gilchrist believes the team won’t suffer from the chopping and changing of the wicketkeeper.
And he says it was the decision to select specific glovemen between the formats that gave his career it’s meteoric jumpstart.
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“I’m sure they (Nevill and Wade) are both striving to be the one (wicketkeeper) in all three positions,” Gilchrist told cricket.com.au at the 10th Anniversary of the Basil Sellers Scholarship ceremony in Sydney
“It’s a different landscape compared to when even I was playing let alone 20 years before that.
“One of the great breaks I had was when they decided to pick a Test team and a one-day team.
“There was a big overlap of players but the ‘keeping position was one where I got my chance.
“Ian Healy was told they (Australia’s selectors) wanted him to focus on Tests and that got me in the one-day setup.
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“It’s not foreign to have different players in different teams. I don’t see it upsetting the rhythm of the team.
“There’s a reason why the selectors have gone that way, they’ve stipulated that.
“It’s up to them to work out whether that’s been a success or they need to re-think it.
“I don’t think it affects the players – they’ve all got to be versatile in their thinking and preparation now.
“The players now are striving to nail a spot down for themselves but I don’t see it upsetting anything.”
Gilchrist revolutionised the game with his destructive stroke play at the top of the order in limited-overs cricket and at No.7 in the five-day game, where he scored more runs (3,948) and more centuries (12) than any other player.
While he might be remembered for plundering boundaries and disheartening bowling attacks for more than a decade, Gilchrist also owns 416 Test and 472 ODI dismissals, the second most in each format behind Mark Boucher (555) and Kumar Sangakkara (501) respectively.
As the man most responsible for putting the emphasis on ‘batsman’ in ‘wicketkeeper-batsman’, Gilchrist says he prioritised his glovework above all else during his record-setting career, even if modern wicketkeepers are judged more on the runs they score than the catches they take.
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“One-day cricket changed that,” Gilchrist said when asked if batting ability is regarded higher than glovework when selecting a wicketkeeper.
“That really changed the whole focus for 7,8,9,10,11 having to contribute with the bat.
“In first-class cricket you could get away with it, but short-version cricket changed that and a whole number of people changed it.
“The Sri Lankans in ’96 totally stunned the world with what they did with a keeper-batsman at the top and dashing after the first 15 overs.
“I probably played my little part but all I wanted to do was to be the best wicketkeeper they (the selectors) could pick.
“It was of higher priority for me to perfect with the gloves than getting runs.
“If I had a good day with the gloves it far outweighed any runs that I scored ‘cause you’re the only ‘keeper - everyone’s got to bat at some stage but you’re the only one with the gloves on.
“I think all ‘keepers operate under that mantra, still priding themselves on being the best keeper they can be whilst still working on that other aspect of their game.”