Gilchrist has leave behind “Ashes” failure and come back with a bang against ICC world eleven.
He was blissfully unaware he had scored the fastest century by an Australian in a one-day cricket international as he powered Australia to victory over the World XI here on Friday.
Gilchrist claimed his 12th one-day century in 73 balls in the officially-sanctioned ODI, cracking eight fours and four sixes to eclipse the mark of 78 balls that Gilchrist had shared with former captain Allan Border.
His blazing 103 motored the Australians to a match-winning 328 for four. The world team could only muster 273 in reply to lose the match by 55 runs and the Super Series with a game to play on Sunday.
The naturally-gifted left-hander was in irresistible touch as he plundered the world bowling before he was bowled by Indian off-spinner Virender Sehwag.
“I didn’t feel like I got off to a flyer at the start, I knew through the middle (of the innings) that the tempo was going really well, but it’s all about the start we get for the team,” Gilchrist said at the post-match press conference.
“And fortunately Kato (Simon Katich) and I managed to do a good job there (opening partnership) and get a couple of good launching pads in the two games and the guys then came in today and really cashed in on that.”
Gilchrist had a forgettable Ashes series against England, scoring just 181 runs at 22.62 with a highest score of 49, but he said that was all in the past.
“That’s just wasting your time and mental energy thinking about that, but I was certainly relieved to be getting runs today,” he said.
“Like everyone who came back from England, I had a bit to think about and some hard work, I didn’t have to necessarily change major things, but I just had to clear my head.
“I had to get in some good hard practice and I think that’s what this team did and we addressed it early in net sessions and training sessions here have been great.
“If you work hard enough long enough it turns around. We all thought we were working very hard in England at various times and trying to get through it.
“But it all probably shows just how well England bowled in England.
“That bowling lineup there on paper is as good as any bowling lineup in the world and it just shows that if you don’t put it in the right areas good batsmen are going to capitalise and it just shows how consistently well England bowled in England.”
