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Adam Gilchrist made a public appeal tonight for the return of the ball he slog-swept out of Bellerive Oval to become the first player to hit 100 Test sixes.
Unfortunately for Australia’s master blaster, the big hit off Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan on the second day of the second Test soared right out of the ground and wasn’t seen again.
“We haven’t got the ball back which is a bit frustrating. I’d love to hang on to it,” Gilchrist said.
“I’m not a massive collector of memorabillia but there are a few little bits and pieces that I’m sure every cricketer has stashed away that means something to them.
“That’s a unique sort of item so I’d love to get it back. So whoever has got it, I’d be more than grateful.”
The left-hander’s majestic innings of 67 not out off 77 balls with three sixes and seven fours came to an end when Australian captain Ricky Ponting declared at 5-542, after earlier centuries from opener Phil Jaques (150) and Mike Hussey.
Sri Lanka were 0-30 at stumps off 12 overs after bad light brought an early end to the day’s play.
After clipping paceman Lasith Malinga for his first six of the day over mid-wicket, Gilchrist remembered he was now on 98 Test sixes and two off the magical ton.
“It came into mind and I tried to slog-sweep Murali and nearly got caught,” he said.
“The moment you set about trying to be too forceful you’re probably not allowing for things to happen too naturally.
“The (two) sixes at the end were very natural, free-flowing shots – not trying to blaze the ball over the rope.”
Gilchrist went for broke in spinner Muralitharan’s 46th over, sweeping two consecutive deliveries over the mid-wicket fence.
The second of those two sixes went over the scoreboard and out of the ground to wild applause from the 5,381 patrons.
Gilchrist achieved his milestone 100th sixth in his 92nd Test. Nobody else has come close.
West Indies great Brian Lara has next most with 88 sixes in his 131-Test career, one more than New Zealander Chris Cairns notched in 62 Tests.
Viv Richards, another West Indies great and the original “the Master Blaster,” hit 84 sixes in his 121 Test matches in the 1970s and 80s.
“I certainly know there aren’t too many things you do in life where you are the only person ever to have done it,” said Gilchrist, who celebrated his 36th birthday this week on the same day he was named Australia’s greatest ever one-day cricketer.
“So with that in mind, it would be nice to have that particular ball that notched up that hundred.
“It’s not a milestone you ever set out in your career to achieve but as I say it’s unique.”
Gilchrist says he loves hitting sixes but it can often lead to his downfall.
“Even in the hundred sixes, there has been many times when I have walked off trying to hit a six and it hasn’t worked,” he said.
“So it’s about trying to stay true to your natural game I guess.”
But the rewards are sweet.
“There is a point in time when you and you only know — the rest know it a second later — and it’s the best feeling as a batsman,” he said.
“You know you took a risk. If it pays off it usually pays reasonable dividends and is satisfying.”
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