Adam Gilchrist picks Michael Bevan as the hardest bowler he has kept wickets to
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Australian legend Adam Gilchrist has picked Michael Bevan over the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Brett Lee as the hardest bowler he has kept wickets to. The 45-year-old believes that Bevan’s bowling action is what made things difficult for Gilchrist behind the stumps.
During his illustrious career, Gilchrist had the privilege of keeping wickets to some of the most renowned bowlers of all time, including some of his compatriots. But upon being asked who was the most challenging bowler he has faced from behind the stumps, Gilchrist’s picked an unlikely former teammate in the form of Michael Bevan.Â
Speaking to Cricket Australia’s website, Gilchrist said, "Bevo's not renowned for his bowling. Obviously his batting, he was so masterful in that, but he did contribute with some handy wickets at times. The left-arm leggie, fast action, is very difficult to pick out of the hand. That's why it was so challenging."
Though Bevan rolled his arm over whenever he was asked to do so by the captain, he was never really a full-time bowler and no one experienced the consequences of the same more than Gilchrist himself.
"And Bevo will concede himself he didn't have the greatest control so whilst he could land it right on a sixpence he could also throw them far and wide too, so it was always a challenge," he added.
Gilchrist and Bevan have combined as keeper and bowler on 45 occasions, although they have played 175 ODIs together, something which the former wicketkeeper-batsman believes is enough to dub Bevan as the hardest he kept to.
Bevan currently holds the best match figures by an Australian left-arm wrist-spinner in Test history, finishing with 10 for 113 against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval in January 1997.
All in all, Bevan appeared in a total of 18 Tests and 232 ODIs, scalping 36 ODI wickets while also being an integral part of Australia's World Cup victories in 1999 and 2003.
