Cricket’s Greatest, like the subject of its first episode, Adam Gilchrist, hits a solid drive to the boundary with remarkable finesse. Drawing on interviews from journalists, coaches and past players as well some archival interview footage from the man himself, this documentary series will please cricket tragics across the globe.
Episode 1 details the career of Adam “Gilly” Gilchrist from his beginnings as a batsman for New South Wales to his coming of age firstly playing for Western Australia and then becoming wicket keeper and number 7 batsman for Australia.
Among the many highlights shown are his remarkable innings against Pakistan in Hobart where he almost single-handedly saved Australia from defeat with a remarkable second innings effort with the bat (in only his second test for Australia), his return to form in the Ashes in Perth and many highlights from his outstanding career as opener for Australia’s one day side.
His stats are impressive, including the third fastest test 100 and, until recently, the most dismissals in one day cricket, but this program also lets us in on what Gilchrist is like as a person and what drove him to succeed. This is told by best mate Justin Langer as well as fellow Australian teammates Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh, Rod Marsh and Mike Hussey. Many international players also tell of their thoughts of Gilchrist’s impact on the game from an opposition perspective, including Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussein from England and Moin Khan from Pakistan (amongst others).
There is a dearth of excellent match footage of Gilchrist gloving superb catches as well many of his legendary sixes to compliment the interview footage.
This is an entertaining and informative program and will make many cricket fans nostalgic and, hopefully, encourage the younger generation to pad up and smack the next hapless bowler for six.
Reviewed by Rodney Hrvatin
Twitter: @wagnerfan74
Rating out of 10: 8
Season 1 of Cricket’s Greatest will be released on DVD on 20 August 2015
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