Remembering Gary Gilmour

Gilmour tormenting the Englishmen at Headingley in the 1975 World Cup semi-final

Cricket lost a great character on 10 June, 2014. Former Australia all-rounder Gary Gilmour breathed his last on that day at the age of 62.

For modern day cricket fans, more accustomed to an era when batsmen rule the roost on flat tracks, Gilmour belonged to a different age. In the 1970's when he plied his trade, cricket was played in whites, there was no set rule on the number of bouncers in an over and the helmet was yet to be accepted by batsmen. With pacers like Dennis Lillee, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner ruling over the sport, batsmen had to play second fiddle.

Gilmour featured in 15 Tests and 5 ODIs for Australia between 1973-1977. A casual and lighthearted approach to fitness, coupled along with recurring health problems cut Gilmour's career short. But in the short spell that he had, Gilmour etched his mark into the gentleman's game.

The jewel of his short career was probably the 6 for 14 he scalped in the 1975 World Cup semi-final against England at Headingley. His left-arm swing left the English batting line-up in tatters. In 2002, Wisden rated this performance as the greatest bowling effort in ODI history.

Though he scalped 54 Test wickets at an impressive 26.03 apiece, Gilmour was also a force to reckon with the willow. In a time when batsmen displayed a very defensive outlook, Gilmour was all for swinging it all over the park. His approach to batting can be summed up by his blitzkrieg ton in the 1977 Christchurch Test against New Zealand. During his innings of 101, he slammed 20 fours and a six, against an attack featuring an all-rounder of the calibre of Richard Hadlee. 'Gus' as he was fondly named by teammates had thus scored 86 out of his 101 runs by slamming the Kiwi bowlers for boundaries.

Though gifted in the game of cricket, Gilmour was unlucky to suffer from several health problems. The burly all-rounder was in desperate need for a liver transplant to survive in 2005. His former captain and friend Ian Chappell organised a fund-raising effort to save his mate. On his recurring health issues Ian Chappel had quipped "He was at the front of the queue when they were handing out talent, but unfortunately he was right at the back of the queue when they handed out health and good luck".

A fiery pacer, a destroyer with the willow and a jovial character to have on the pitch, Gilmour couldn't make the most out of his talent. But judging by the tributes that poured in after his death from former teammates, current players and friends he did make friends, a lot of them.

Gus Gilmour has passed away..a sad day...had not an enemy in the game...his bat was an axe and he could swing a brick around a container.RIP

— Kerry O'Keeffe (@kokeeffe49) June 10, 2014

Very sad news about the passing of Gary Gilmour. All the sympathies of the Australian cricket team to his wife and family

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) June 10, 2014