The Great Gilly Ripoff

[rod1949]

I though Gilly was retiring from all forms of cricket to spend more time with his family ????

So do you people who brought farewell Gilly memorbillia and attended his farewell appearances around the country feel ripped off. What a big con.

[ptc]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!

[silentC]

He said he was going to play Twenty20 in one of the interviews he did just after the announcement. If someone offered you $765,000 to play cricket, what would you do?

I reckon good on him. He's been a brilliant cricketer and a good ambassador to the country.

[silentC]

This is from his statement:

"It is with great pride and happiness that I make the decision to retire from Test and one-day cricket"

I don't think he ever said "all forms of the game". Those were the words used in the press, not by Gilly.

[bitingmidge]

I thought the "to spend more time with family" was a bit over the top at the time, and even told my missus to watch out for an announcement about him playing in India.

The reality is that the IPC season is six or seven weeks long, so if you can make a cool $750k for even two months work, and have ten at home with the kids, everyone's a winner.

As for memorabilia. Well I don't get why Gillies undies are any more valuable than mine.

I promise after the Midge farewell concert, I won't play again in India.

Cheers,

P

[Andy Mac]

My take on it is he's doing the right thing by the Australian teams (Test and ODI) by not spreading himself thinly, doing all of them plus the Indian thing that some of our other senior players are attempting. Surely to add more fixtures to their timetable is asking for burnout, injury (especially as some of them are getting a bit older), or whatever... ie.clashes and loyalties vs. contractual obligations. A wise move by Gilly for himself, and responsible from the Australian perspective.
As for retiring meaning exactly that, you just have to think of various musicians and singers, like our perennial JF!

Cheers,

[dazzler]

I think WE claim these sportpeople as OUR own when the fact is they play the sport because they like it, are good at it and make money from it. I think any patriotism comes a distant fourth.

Playing in india would be fun

[Incoming!]

Can't see a problem with continuing his playing career. Comebacks are the new black, after all. Shall we start a list?

The Spice Girls ...

[Cliff Rogers]

....Comebacks are the new black, after all. Shall we start a list?

The Spice Girls ...

Elvis

[RETIRED]

Keep it on or near the topic Kiddies.

[Cliff Rogers]

OK,
Elvis was the nick name for Marcus Trescothick.
He was out of the game in 2006 with injury.

Hows that?

[Rossluck]

I was always of the uderstanding that Gilly was plaing in India, well before he announced his retirement. It's outside the ICC so he didn't include it in his retirement declaration.

(please excuse me while I digress, ),

By the way, I heard Hasha Bogle (the brilliant Indian commentator) say something very pertinent and insightful the other day. He was asked through a listener's letter what he thought the Indian team had to do to be considered the number one team in the world. He relpied "They need to win more games on the field and not off the field as they're doing now".

[Big Shed]

I don't see the problem, he makes his living playing cricket, he has just been offered $765,000 to play 44 days of 20/20.

That will allow him the rest of the year to spend with his family.

Good luck to him.

Anyway, what about Brett Lee, Symonds, Ponting, they are still playing for Australia, should they play in India?

At the end of the day they are professional sportsmen and that is how they make teir money.

[Poppa]

I don't have a problem with Gilly at all. He has announced his retirement from representing Australia in tests and one-dayers. He has retired as one of the all time great players, and as an honourable and excellent competitor and ambassador for the game.

If he wants to play 20/20 in India (or on the moon for that matter), I say good luck to him. Anyone that buys those channel 9 memorabilia things is a bit of a dill anyway, don't you reckon? they charge huge amounts for them and they are worthless within minutes. Give it 30 years and they'll be a regular find at garage sales for $5.

[AlexS]

Give it 30 years and they'll be a regular find at garage sales for $5.

Seen quite a few of them at cash converters for years!