Gilchrist reveals the toughest bowler he has ever kept to

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: There’s a reason why Adam Gilchrist has been considered as one of the best wicketkeepers of all time. He had to pick Shane Warne’s flipper and his wrong’un. He had to grit and bear it as Brett Lee sent thunderbolts whizzing past the batsman’s nose, and be ready for the odd loose ball down the leg-side from Wild Thing, Shaun Tait.

But the man has revealed it was none of the above who actually gave him a tough time behind the wickets, the man he found the most difficult to keep to was left arm wrist-spinner Michael Bevan.

In an interview to cricket.com.au, Gilchrist said, “"Bevo's not renowned for his bowling. Obviously his batting, he was so masterful in that, but he did contribute with some handy wickets at times. The left-arm leggie, fast action, is very difficult to pick out of the hand. That's why it was so challenging,"

"And Bevo will concede himself he didn't have the greatest control so whilst he could land it right on a sixpence he could also throw them far and wide too, so it was always a challenge," added the 45 year old.

Bevan, the former left-handed batsman, was a one-day wizard with the bat as he was capable of timing even the most daunting run chase to perfection. However, he sometimes was also engaged in part time left-arm leg-spin when the occasion called for it.

Bevan still holds the record of capturing the best match figures by an Australian left-arm wrist-spinner in Test history, finishing with 10 for 113 against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval in January, 1997.

The chinaman bowler, who appeared in a total of 18 Tests and 232 ODIs, notched up 36 wickets in the 50-over format besides also being a pivotal part of Australia's World Cup victories in 1999 and 2003.