A right-arm fast bowler who moved the ball off the seam, Dave Gilbert's break came in 1985 when he was picked to tour England when three of the first-choice players withdrew to join the rebel side in South Africa. He bowled well in his few appearances, and made his debut in the final Test at The Oval where he took 1 for 96. He stayed in the side for the next 14 months, leading the attack, but never really did enough to convince that he had what it took at the highest level, despite being given a good run in the side. He made his debut for New South Wales in 1983-84, taking 25 wickets in eight matches, and the following season added another 30 wickets as NSW won the Sheffield Shield - Gilbert, batting at No. 11, hit the winning run in a dramatic one-wicket victory in the final. He moved to Tasmania in 1988-89, and in 1991 had a successful season with Gloucestershire before retiring at the end of the following Australian season. In 1995 he took over as Surrey's cricket manager, moving to Sussex in 1997 as general manager, and subsequently chief executive. He returned to Australia in 2001 to take over a similar role with New South Wales.
Martin Williamson