Last Update: February 23, 2023, 07:58 IST
On this day in 2002, Australian legend Adam Gilchrist produced one of the most destructive innings of his Test career when he decimated an efficient South African attack to all parts of the ground. In the first Test of South Africa’s 2001–02 tour of Australia that year, also at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, the opening day ended with honours.
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Opening batsman Matthew Hayden got his side off to a good start with a quickfire century (122 off 189 balls) against the home side, which included the likes of Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis and Andre Nel. Hayden’s century was studded with 18 fours and two maximum sixes before he was dismissed late in the fifth hour. Captain Steve Waugh managed 32 runs before being sent back.
Gilchrist came into the match in the last hour of the first day when his team was tottering at 293/5. Gillies and Damien Martyn played out the remaining 10 overs of the day to end on 331. The next day, he was dropped by Kallis for 35 before launching one of the most brutal attacks ever in Test history.
After completing his half-century, Gilchrist increased the momentum as his fifth Test century came in 121 balls. But it took just 91 balls to reach his double century, which would remain the highest score of his decorated career.
His unbeaten 204 off 213 balls in a blitzkrieg studded with 19 fours and eight sixes set the standard for the rest of the series as well. At one point, when he was on 169, Gillies narrowly missed hitting an advertising billboard that promised a gold bar to whoever hit it. Despite missing out on becoming a millionaire, he also added 317 runs with Damien Martyn, who finished with 133 runs.
He also became the fifth wicket-keeper to score 200 runs, with Imtiaz Ali, Tasleem Arif, Brendan Kuruppu, compatriot Greg Blewitt and Andy Flower reaching that milestone before him. The Australians closed their innings on 652/7, and they bowled out the Proteas for 159 and 133 to win the match by an innings and 360 runs. Glenn McGrath is the leading destroyer taking eight wickets.
While the world witnessed one of the most aggressive innings ever seen in Test cricket. But this was short-lived as three weeks later New Zealand’s Nathan Astle surpassed Gilchrist’s record by scoring 222 against England.
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