Gilly Gone?, Not what he was. Options

[Shane]

Adam GIlchrist....Hm!

Could always be relied upon to bludgeon any bowling attack, yet over the last 12 months, he appears to have lost that edge and eye he had for belting the ball at will.

The question must be asked.........Has age caught up with Gilly?

He just doesn't appear to be seeing the ball as he was not so long ago and many times of late, appears to be a little late on his shots.

So, is it age catching up? Is it just a bloke down on form?

His reaction times have definitely slowed, this can be expected as one ages, but I think it is becoming very evident in Gilly very quickly.

[Prouty]

One thing I've learned in watching international cricket is to never discount Adam Gilchrist.

Him getting out cheaply isn't exactly something new. He's just as likely to turn around in the next match and make a hundred off 85 balls. And really, after mutilating the kiwis like that, who gives a rat's?

On general form I'd say Gilly has been out of sorts more often than we're used to, but his average hasn't really wavered and he is still a matchwinner.

[Shane]

One thing I've learned in watching international cricket is to never discount Adam Gilchrist.

Him getting out cheaply isn't exactly something new. He's just as likely to turn around in the next match and make a hundred off 85 balls. And really, after mutilating the kiwis like that, who gives a rat's?

On general form I'd say Gilly has been out of sorts more often than we're used to, but his average hasn't really wavered and he is still a matchwinner.

But Prouty, you haven't exactly answered the question, you've merely made an assumption why I asked it and provided a sort of explanation.

So, has he slowed down to the point where his game is affected or not?

Maybe he is doing a Mark Waugh? As in lost interest to a degree....do tell?

[Stirer]

But Prouty, you haven't exactly answered the question, you've merely made an assumption why I asked it and provided a sort of explanation.

So, has he slowed down to the point where his game is affected or not?

Maybe he is doing a Mark Waugh? As in lost interest to a degree....do tell?

Shane, a quote from the past (I think it was Botham): Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Graeme Pollock went through a stage where his game went off a peg or two. It improved when he swopped his spectacles for contact lenses, and changed his stance to be more square-on to the bowler. Following that, there is a former Saf hockey player gal who is now specialising in helping sportsmen to adjust with focal therapy. She works with peripheral vision and vision exercises where she claims you get split second advantages. It has been very successful with the rugby team. Perhaps Gilly just needs to get his eyes right. If his 'keeping is also off the boil, then I recon it's an eye problem for a form problem.

[Shane]

Shane, a quote from the past (I think it was Botham): Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Graeme Pollock went through a stage where his game went off a peg or two. It improved when he swopped his spectacles for contact lenses, and changed his stance to be more square-on to the bowler. Following that, there is a former Saf hockey player gal who is now specialising in helping sportsmen to adjust with focal therapy. She works with peripheral vision and vision exercises where she claims you get split second advantages. It has been very successful with the rugby team. Perhaps Gilly just needs to get his eyes right. If his 'keeping is also off the boil, then I recon it's an eye problem for a form problem.

Bingo!

Gilly may well be experiencing some very subtle changes to his eyesight. He just does not seem to be sighting the ball as well as he did.

[Prouty]

But Prouty, you haven't exactly answered the question, you've merely made an assumption why I asked it and provided a sort of explanation.

So, has he slowed down to the point where his game is affected or not?

Maybe he is doing a Mark Waugh? As in lost interest to a degree....do tell?

It is definitely possible that his "hunger" isn't as prominent. The fact he would consider a career in baseball when suggestions were made he would change codes was a genuine surprise to me. But I can't see that having a dramatic impact on his game. Then again I know a few people who stand by the idea that cricket is about the dollar sign, nothing more.

Age catching up? I just don't see it, personally. The guy is a mixed bag, always has been. Some of his dismissals are so wimpy and predictable it's embarassing.

I guess my question Shane would be how long do you think this age handicap has been affecting Gilly? You say he's been out of sorts for the past 12 months, though Gilly has been up and down for a looong time now. Longer than 12 months.

This post has been edited by Prouty: Dec 5 2005, 03:42 PM

[Shane]

It is definitely possible that his "hunger" isn't as prominent. The fact he would consider a career in baseball when suggestions were made he would change codes was a genuine surprise to me. But I can't see that having a dramatic impact on his game. Then again I know a few people who stand by the idea that cricket is about the dollar sign, nothing more.

Age catching up? I just don't see it, personally. The guy is a mixed bag, always has been. Some of his dismissals are so wimpy and predictable it's embarassing.

I guess my question Shane would be how long do you think this age handicap has been affecting Gilly? You say he's been out of sorts for the past 12 months, though Gilly has been up and down for a looong time now. Longer than 12 months.

Mate, I dunno if it is an age handicap, eyesight problem or just he is losing interest. I merely posed a question based on observations that he is not as dominant as he once was. That could be merely that bowling attacks have finally worked him out, but I don't think so.

Something is just not quite right and I dunno if it is just he is getting a little older and slower or what.

To me, it has definitely been much more obvious over the last 12 months, may have been obvious longer, but the focus was other players and not Gilly, so I never really noticed that much. Gilly has always been the sort who makes a packet or makes nothing, the nothings have really been much more dominant lately.

Lets hope he snaps out of it soon.