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Squash ball key to Gilly rampage

THE SECRET WEAPON BEHIND OUR STUNNING WORLD CUP WIN

A simple squash ball stuffed in Adam Gilchrist's batting glove was the secret to his remarkable World Cup-winning century.
Gilchrist's 149-run blitzkrieg set up Australia's third consecutive World Cup victory and reinforced his standing as one-day cricket's most dangerous batsman.
The West Australian can reveal that Gilchrist was honouring a pledge to his batting coach, Bob Meuleman, when he repeatedly gestured to his left glove after reaching his 15th and most significant one-day century.

Gilchrist has been batting with the squash ball in his glove to improve his grip and prevent the bat slipping in his hand.
He promised Meuleman, the former State selector and second member of the three generations of players to appear for WA, that he would acknowledge his coach's faith if he reached three figures.

"I was pretty pumped up and I had a little message that I had to wave to someone at home in Australia about something in my glove," Gilchrist said.
"It's a guy who helps me with my batting at home. I had a squash ball in my bottom hand in the glove that I use in training to help me with my grip.
"His last words to me before I left the indoor training centre in Perth were: 'Well, if you are going to use it, make sure when you score a hundred in the World Cup final you show me and prove to me that you have got it in there'. So I had to stay true to that."
Meuleman said he was delighted when Gilchrist honoured his promise but regretted not taking a $500 bet at $5.50 that his student would be the leading scorer in the World Cup final.

"He owes me a beer!" Meuleman said.

Meuleman provided six worn squash balls to Gilchrist before he set off for the West Indies after convincing the left-hander that having an object in his bottom hand glove would improve his batting technique.

"I've worked with him for 10 years and he has an unusual grip in which his hand goes too far around the back of the bat," Meuleman said.
"The squash ball is a great big lump in your glove but it makes it hard to twist around the back of the bat which improves his grip.
"He had a few hits before he went off to the World Cup when he didn't have the squash ball in and he hit them like he couldn't even play fourth grade. Then he put it in and he then hit the ball so good."

Gilchrist used the squash ball in his glove for the first time in a match when he slammed 131 for WA in a one-dayer against Queensland last November.
He used it throughout the World Cup before abandoning it during the semifinal against South Africa when he made just one but brought it back in Barbados for the final.

It might seem tempting, after a performance of such individual and collective greatness, for Gilchrist, 35, to step away from one-day cricket a fulfilled and satisfied man. But he will resist that temptation for the moment, preferring to wait until the emotion of his 149 in the World Cup final has subsided before making a decision about his future.

Australia's exceptional keeper- batsman put on a display of clean and relentless hitting to knock the stuffing out of Sri Lanka's attack.
Upon cracking Lasith Malinga down the ground to bring up his century in a mere 72 balls, Gilchrist acknowledged all parts of the packed Kensington Oval before turning to the television cameras and pointing to his left glove — his acknowledgement to Meuleman.
In their 100th outing together, Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden produced their biggest opening stand of 172.
Gilchrist reinforced his liking for a big occasion, adding to the half centuries he blazed in the 1999 and 2003 finals against Pakistan and India.

UP AND ADAM

How Gilly smashed the Sri Lankans

149 runs off 104 balls, 13 fours and eight sixes Highest individual score in a World Cup final

His eight sixes equalled the most sixes in a
World Cup innings, joining Ricky Ponting
(2003 final v India) and Imran Nazir

It was his maiden World Cup hundred

It was his 15th one-day international century
and first since 2005-06 third final Australia
v Sri Lanka in Brisbane

He has played in all of Australia's record
three consecutive World Cup triumphs and
has scored at least 50 in each of the finals
(54 v Pakistan at Lord's in 1999 and 57 v India at Johannesburg in 2003)

He became the fifth batsman to score a ton
in a World Cup final, after Clive Lloyd (West
Indies, 102 in 1975), Viv Richards (West Indies,
138 in 1979), Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka, 107
in 1996) and Ricky Ponting (140 in 2003)

He became the fourth wicketkeeper, after Dave Houghton, Andy Flower and
Rahul Dravid, to score a century in World Cups

His innings took him past 9000 ODI runs and
1000 World Cup runs

When Gilchrist caught Upul Tharanga he became the first wicketkeeper to reach 50 World Cup dismissals

PUMA® and Adam Gilchrist are tickled pink to support the McGrath Foundation.

Melbourne, Australia (December 18, 2007) – Adam Gilchrist is set to become Australia’s greatest Test wicket keeper, by passing Ian Healy’s record of 395 dismissals. Adam needs a further 5 wickets to surpass Ian’s current record, Adam currently has 391 dismissals in 92 test matches – 354 catches and 37 stumpings. Adam will wear a special pair of PUMA^® wicket keeping gloves, in support of the McGrath Foundation, during the Boxing Day test at the MCG. With the support of his sponsors, $18,000 for each dismissal taken by Adam during the Boxing Day Test will be donated to the McGrath Foundation.

Adam and PUMA

PUMA have created a very special pair of wicket keeping gloves to be worn by Adam during the Boxing Day Test match. The gloves highlight Adam’s visibility and support for the McGrath Foundation. PUMA, as Adam’s long term partner, are delighted to be able to assist Adam in simultaneously breaking the Australian Test wicket keeping record, and highlight Adam’s support for the McGrath foundation.

McGrath Foundation

Today, the McGrath Foundation aims to educate young women to be 'breast aware' as well as raising money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses through rural and regional Australia.

Adam is delighted to be able to give visibility and awareness to the McGrath Foundation; “I can’t think of a more worthwhile charity to support than the McGrath Foundation. Glenn has not only been a great teammate, he and Jane have been close friends of mine and my wife Mel for many years now. Jane’s recovery from her illness has been truly inspirational, and to be able to help in some small way for their foundation is a great privilege. I would also like to pass on my sincere thanks to all my sponsors who have so generously donated their money and support for this fantastic cause” says Adam.

For further information on the McGrath Foundation visit www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au.

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PUMA^® is the global athletic brand that successfully fuses influences from sport, lifestyle and fashion.  PUMA’s unique industry perspective delivers the unexpected in sportlifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design. Established in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 80 countries.  For further information please visit www.puma.com and www.pumacricket.com