Amazing player. Totally revolutionized the role of the wicket keeper/batsman in a line up. Fantastic eye and good timing along with awesome hitting power. He was just a terror for the bowlers. At his best, he was, as Geoff Boycott once called him on air, "a left handed Richards". Add to that, his wicket keeping skill... He kept getting better and better as a keeper AFAIC, till the last 2 or 3 years and you have got a real all timer... The way he conducted himself was excellent too, for the most part and although there have been times when I thought he had been hypocritical in terms of his behaviour (and lets face it, everyone is at some point or the other), he has been an excellent role model for all young cricketers... Was a good captain as well, IMHO, FWIW.. I am not as sold about him "walking" as many others, mainly because he only seemed to start doing it from the 2003 WC but at least he stuck true to it afterwards...
The one thing I will always remember about him is the Chennai test in 2004. He had kept wickets through a long Indian innings and he knew that when Australia had to bat the second time, the game was well in the balance... What does he do, as captain? Promotes himself to no.3, takes the game by the scruff of the neck. Normally, if it had been the usual no.3 (think it was Katich in that game, not really sure), India would have been all over him but Gilchrist, simply by his presence, put a bit of fear and apprehension into the Indian bowlers (esp. the spinners). He only made 40 or so off 50 odd balls and didn't hit many boundaries either. But he came in, looked positive, kept pushing the ball around and running hard and in between mixed up some of his powerful strokes... I think, THAT little innings was as much a reason for India not being able to dominate that game as any either, including that partnership between Martyn and Gillespie that followed this innings... Nice guy to talk to, too, although I only got him for a couple of questions.... Bye, bye, Gilly.... You will be missed.