Combining calmness with confidence

Paying tribute to Adam Gilchrist in the Daily Telegraph, Steve Waugh recounts his memories of the wicketkeeper-batsman during his tenure as captain of Australia.

From the moment he entered the Australian dressing room when I began my captaincy of a remodelled one-day outfit, he gave it a calmness with his understated confidence, humour from his larrikin instincts, professionalism as a result of his work ethic and a refreshing vulnerability by never being afraid to display his emotions.

Besides being trusted to bail the team out of trouble with the bat, Waugh also points out that Gilchrist was a vital cog in transforming Australia to a champion side in both Tests and one-dayers.

It was a real luxury to be able to turn to Adam whenever I wanted to increase the run rate in the search for victory. Often it was a gut instinct, spur-of-the-moment decision which meant little or no preparation, but never once did he baulk or resist the notion.

It was on one such occasion that probably turned around the fortunes of the one-day side when, during the tea interval, I contemplated how we were going to turn around our poor form.

It was like a bolt of lightning, an overwhelming urge to elevate Gilly from No. 7 to open the batting to make the most of his natural skills, and the rest is history. He was also responsible, together with Justin Langer, in breaking new ground for the team by chasing down a big fourth-innings total that gave the team faith in its own ability, culminating in the 16 straight victories.

In the Australian, Peter Lalor says the game may never be the same.

It's a loss. You got used to him standing there, egging the team on, bounding in for the return, whispering in the captain's ear, clapping and cajoling.