Gary Gilmour
Encyclopedia
Gary John Gilmour is a former Australian cricketer who played in 15 Tests and 5 One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 1973 to 1977.
At the peak of his career, Gilmour combined spectacular, free-hitting batting with penetrative left-arm swing bowling and the ability to hang on to a blinding catch in the slips cordon. He earned comparisons with the great Alan Davidson
,.
Gilmour's Test debut consisted of 52 runs and 4 for 75 in a big win over New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
. However, he only appeared in two of the next five Tests, as Australia rotated through a number of players with an eye on the Ashes
series later in the year. Gilmour gave them something to ponder with seven wickets in a Test at Auckland
, which included 5 for 64 in the first innings to set up a series-tying victory.
series, but reappeared in green and gold when selected for the 1975 England tour, which included the inaugural World Cup
. The Australians, inexperienced at one-day cricket, adopted a casual yet aggressive approach, often employing a full slips cordon for their opening bowlers. Gilmour was twelfth man in the early stages of the tournament, but selected for the semi final against England at Headingley Stadium. On a day tailor-made for his style of bowling, he finished with 12 overs, six for 14, thus bowling out the opposition for 93. This was the first time that a bowler had taken six wickets in an ODI, and remained the best ODI bowling performance until Winston Davis
claimed 7-51 in the 1983 competition
.
With the Australians almost defeated at 6 for 39 in reply, Gilmour thrashed 28 not out to push his team into the final. Although Australia lost the final to West Indies, Gilmour bagged another five wickets.
In the following Ashes series, Gilmour was only called on at Headlingley, partly because of his World Cup effort there. He bagged 6 for 85 in the first innings, three more in the second innings,
yet was dropped for the last Test.
in Sydney
. Although Gilmour's batting was still somewhat erratic, he thrashed 95 at Adelaide
. The following summer against Pakistan, an injury to Jeff Thomson
denided the Australian attack, which was carried largely by Lillee, Gilmour delivering eight wickets in three Tests at 37.5. A brief tour to New Zealand followed, on which it became clear that Gilmour was struggling with a leg injury. His batting, hitherto unremarkable, won him a place in the record books in the first Test at Christchurch. Gilmour hit his only Test century, 101 in 146 balls and 187 minutes, combining with Doug Walters
for an Australian record seventh-wicket partnership of 217. But Gilmour's powers as a bowler ebbed dramatically, so much so that he bowled only nine inconsequential overs in the Centenary Test at Melbourne
in March 1977. The debilitating foot injury was a handicap: it turned out to be a misdiagnosed; so was a light-hearted attitude to training and fitness that owed more to the 1950s than to the increasingly professional era of which he was part.
In 2007, he was "named one of the best 30 players to have played one-day cricket for Australia",
In 2010, the new training nets at Lugar Park, Kotara were named in his honour.
His older brother, Greg "Sleepy" Gilmour was the main force behind the Hunter Jaegers
joining the national netball league and played first-grade rugby union for Merewether-Carlton and Wanderers.
His three sons, Clint, Ben and Sam Gilmour and nephews, Mitch and Nathan Gilmour, all played cricket.
At the peak of his career, Gilmour combined spectacular, free-hitting batting with penetrative left-arm swing bowling and the ability to hang on to a blinding catch in the slips cordon. He earned comparisons with the great Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (cricketer)
Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler...
,.
Early life and education
Gary John Gilmour was born 26 June 1951 in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah. He attended Waratah Primary School and Newcastle Boys High School. He was awarded two "Blues" by the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association: in 1967 (Baseball) and 1969 (Cricket)..Cricketer
A score of 122 on his debut for New South Wales in January 1972, first caught the eye of the Australian selectors, who weren't afraid to blood him at age 22 during an "experimental" season.Gilmour's Test debut consisted of 52 runs and 4 for 75 in a big win over New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. However, he only appeared in two of the next five Tests, as Australia rotated through a number of players with an eye on the Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series later in the year. Gilmour gave them something to ponder with seven wickets in a Test at Auckland
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
, which included 5 for 64 in the first innings to set up a series-tying victory.
1975 World Cup
Competition for fast bowling places in the Australian team was intense at this time. Gilmour wasn't selected for the 1974-75 AshesThe Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series, but reappeared in green and gold when selected for the 1975 England tour, which included the inaugural World Cup
1975 Cricket World Cup
-Group B:-Knockout stage:-Semifinals:In the best World Cup performance to date by a bowler, Gary Gilmour took six wickets as England were bowled all out for 93 , after falling to 37/7...
. The Australians, inexperienced at one-day cricket, adopted a casual yet aggressive approach, often employing a full slips cordon for their opening bowlers. Gilmour was twelfth man in the early stages of the tournament, but selected for the semi final against England at Headingley Stadium. On a day tailor-made for his style of bowling, he finished with 12 overs, six for 14, thus bowling out the opposition for 93. This was the first time that a bowler had taken six wickets in an ODI, and remained the best ODI bowling performance until Winston Davis
Winston Davis
Winston Walter Davis is a former West Indian cricketer.Davis played his first representative match for West Indies Young Cricketers against their English counterparts at Port-of-Spain in August 1976, making an immediate impact by taking 4-35 in his first innings, including the wickets of future...
claimed 7-51 in the 1983 competition
1983 Cricket World Cup
The 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup was the third edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament. It was held from 9 June to 25 June 1983 in England and was won by India. Eight countries participated in the event. The preliminary matches were played in two groups of four teams each, and each...
.
With the Australians almost defeated at 6 for 39 in reply, Gilmour thrashed 28 not out to push his team into the final. Although Australia lost the final to West Indies, Gilmour bagged another five wickets.
In the following Ashes series, Gilmour was only called on at Headlingley, partly because of his World Cup effort there. He bagged 6 for 85 in the first innings, three more in the second innings,
yet was dropped for the last Test.
Career from 1975-76
In 1975-76, Gilmour raised prospects that he was about to realise his potential. Playing five of the six Tests against the West Indies, Gilmour topped the bowling averages with 20 wickets at 20.3 and was given the new ball ahead of Dennis LilleeDennis Lillee
Dennis Keith Lillee, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation"...
in Sydney
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. Although Gilmour's batting was still somewhat erratic, he thrashed 95 at Adelaide
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
. The following summer against Pakistan, an injury to Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson
Jeffrey Robert Thomson is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history...
denided the Australian attack, which was carried largely by Lillee, Gilmour delivering eight wickets in three Tests at 37.5. A brief tour to New Zealand followed, on which it became clear that Gilmour was struggling with a leg injury. His batting, hitherto unremarkable, won him a place in the record books in the first Test at Christchurch. Gilmour hit his only Test century, 101 in 146 balls and 187 minutes, combining with Doug Walters
Doug Walters
Kevin Douglas Walters MBE in Dungog New South Wales, known as Doug Walters, is a former Australian cricketer. He was known as an attacking batsman, and also as a typical ocker.-First-class career:...
for an Australian record seventh-wicket partnership of 217. But Gilmour's powers as a bowler ebbed dramatically, so much so that he bowled only nine inconsequential overs in the Centenary Test at Melbourne
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
in March 1977. The debilitating foot injury was a handicap: it turned out to be a misdiagnosed; so was a light-hearted attitude to training and fitness that owed more to the 1950s than to the increasingly professional era of which he was part.
Awards and Honours
He has been made a member of Waratah Primary School's Hall of Fame.In 2007, he was "named one of the best 30 players to have played one-day cricket for Australia",
In 2010, the new training nets at Lugar Park, Kotara were named in his honour.
Personal Life
In 2005 he underwent a liver transplant.His older brother, Greg "Sleepy" Gilmour was the main force behind the Hunter Jaegers
Hunter Jaegers
The Hunter Jaegers were an Australian netball team representing the Hunter Valley of New South Wales in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. The team was initially based out of the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, but merged with the Sydney Swifts in 2008 to create the New South Wales Swifts to...
joining the national netball league and played first-grade rugby union for Merewether-Carlton and Wanderers.
His three sons, Clint, Ben and Sam Gilmour and nephews, Mitch and Nathan Gilmour, all played cricket.
External links
- Whatever became of Gus Gilmour - article in The AgeThe AgeThe Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
March, 2003