Gary Gilmour

It was a freezing night at VFL Park in Melbourne and they had just introduced the stump microphone. Rainy, miserable night it was. Ray Bright was our 12th man and I spent several overs trying to get his attention. In the end I yelled into the stump mic, 'Hey Brighty, where's me f—ing jumper?' I thought they'd cut it out, but apparently it went to air. Packer wasn't impressed. Got hauled over the coals for that one!

Gimour suffered poor health in the last years of his life. He had a congenital narrowing of the main artery to the liver, and underwent a liver transplant in 2005. He suffered ill-health for many years, which was exacerbated by a fall. He died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on 10 June 2014.

Gilmour was married to Helen and together they had four children, Clint, Ben, Sam and Brooke. Clint Gilmour predeceased his father, dying of brain cancer aged 33 in March 2014.

Gilmour was selected to play for Newcastle while still a teenager. He was only 16 when picked for Northern New South Wales against New Zealand and took 5–70 for Newcastle against Metropolitan when only 17.

Gilmour scored a duck in his next game, against Western Australia, but took four wickets with the ball. His third match, against South Australia, saw him take 4–69 in South Australia's second innings.

Gilmour began the next summer well, taking seven wickets against WA (including his first five-for, 5–65) and scoring 72 runs. He struggled against South Australia, scored 53 playing against the touring Pakistan side for an invitational Tasmanian side took five wickets against Victoria and five wickets plus an innings of 73 against Queensland. People began to discuss him as an international prospect.

Gilmour had an excellent debut. Australia batted first and scored 8–462; Gilmour scored 52 not out off 58 balls. New Zealand were dismissed for 237 with Gilmour taking 4–75. He only bowled three overs in the second innings as Australia's spinners took the bulk of the wickets; New Zealand only made 200.

Gilmour found things slightly tougher in the second test, taking 1–70 and 3–70 and making 3 with the bat in a drawn game. Gilmour was out-bowled in a Sheffield Shield game by Jeff Thomson and was made 12th man for the third test so the Australian selectors could trial other bowlers. However he did make the squad to tour NewZealand in 1974. He took first class 45 wickets at 31 for the summer – this would be Gilmour's best ever aggregate.

He also won man of the match award for the 1st ODI, taking 2–19 off 7 overs. He took 1–36 in the second ODI. Gilmour had taken 20 first class wickets on the tour at an average of just 15.

Highlights of the summer included an innings of 59 for NSW against the touring English, seven wickets against Victoria, 5–19 in a spell against Queensland, four wickets against WA and six against South Australia.

These efforts – 31 Shield wickets at 30 – earned him selection on the 1975 tour of England, in part because his all-round ability made him ideal for the World Cup one-day matches.

The Australians, inexperienced at one-day cricket, adopted a casual yet aggressive approach, often employing a full slips cordon for their opening bowlers. Gilmour was twelfth man in the early stages of the tournament, but selected for the semi-final against England at Headingley. On a day tailor-made for his style of bowling, he finished with 12 overs, six for 14, thus bowling out the opposition for 93. This was the first time that a bowler had taken six wickets in an ODI, and remained the best ODI bowling performance until Winston Davis claimed 7–51 in the 1983 competition.

With the Australians almost defeated at 39 for 6 in reply, Gilmour thrashed 28 not out off 28 balls to push his team into the final. Although Australia lost the final to West Indies, Gilmour bagged 5–48 and scored 14 off 11 balls.

Gilmour was picked in the side for the first test against the West Indies and this time it was Max Walker who was made 12th man. Gilmour took 4–42 and 2–26 helping Australia win the match.

Gilmour was kept on in the second test, with Australia opting for five bowlers (playing Gilmour and Walker, hoping Gilmour's batting would offset the loss of a specialist). Gilmour scored 48 (Australia's second highest score in their first innings) and took 2–103 as Australia lost by an innings.

In the sole ODI that summer, Gilmour took 2–48.

An injury to Dennis Lillee saw Gilmour back in the side for the fourth test. and he took 0–54 and 2–43, and scoring 20 with the bat.

In the fifth test, Gilmour hit 95 off 94 balls in Australia's first innings and got a duck in the second; he took 2–37 and 3–44 with the ball. In the sixth test he took 5–34 in the West Indies first innings, helping set up another Australian victory.

Highlights of the tour was the first game against the South African XI. The Wanderers were 9–228 in their second innings, only 158 runs ahead. Gilmour came out to bat at number 11 (number ten was Alan Hurst) and proceeded to hit 80 runs in 64 minutes in a partnership of 96. This enabled the Wanderers to win the game. Richie Benaud said was one of the best innings he had seen. GIlmour did not repeat his form in the second game or the third. He scored 54 in a one-day game.

Gilmour's form dropped off sharply the following summer. He took 1–87 off 17 overs against Victoria and struggled to get wickets in other early season games. He did take seven wickets in a game against Queensland.

He was chosen over Max Walker as third paceman for the first test against Pakistan, in support of Lillee and Thomson. Gilmour required a runner during the game, due to an injured ankle. He took 1–55 and 1–67 and scored 5 and 3.

Jeff Thomson was injured in that game, so Gilmour kept his place for the second test, taking 2–78 and 1–19. In the third test he took 3–81, making it eight wickets in three Tests at 37.5. Later it was revealed that Gimour had been bowling all summer with a bone "the size of a five-cent piece" floating around his heel.

He scored 44 in an early tour one day game, but performed poorly with the ball, taking 0–56. Against Wellington he took 0–31 and 0–30, though scored 25 with the bat Against Central Districts he took 0–40 and 1–28.

"I can't think of a better Gilmour innings for Australia", said Greg Chappell. "1 know a lot of people thought he should be dropped, but that innings showed why he can't." He took 0–48 and 1–48 with the ball.

He also bowled poorly in the second test, taking 1–59 and 0–11 (off one over). "It certainly isn't helping us", said Greg Chappell. "He is not bowling as well as he should be". However he did score 64 with the bat.

He was kept on in the team for the 5th test, suffering badly at the hands of the World XI batsmen, and going for 1–141 in an Australian innings defeat. He scored 9 and 13.

Among his one-day games were one against the West Indies where he scored 23 off 20 balls and took 2–46. He scored 39 against the West Indies in another game and in the final took 2–14.

In the Supertests he took 3–28 and 3–57 against the World XI.

Gilmour said "From the cricket point of view, World Series Cricket was the hardest couple of years I've ever played in my life. "But on the other aspect – my position in the Australian side – it seems, [from looking at] the players that the Australians picked for the establishment, I think I could have made it and probably could have finished up financially about the same – for playing less cricket. But I don't think it would have done my game any good because I know that playing World Series Cricket – it was tough – I think it made me a lot better cricketer."

Gilmour was recalled to play Tasmania in a McDonald's Cup one-day game. He scored one batting at first drop and went for 0–25 off three overs as Tasmania won the game. Also in that competition took 2–28 in a game against Queensland, 2–39 in the semi final against WA and 1–53 and scored 21 in the final against Victoria, which NSW lost.

He played one more first class game, against South Australia, taking 1–44 and 0–5. His first career was over at the age of 27. However he continued to play for Belmont in Newcastle District Competition.

As a cricketer he was the most talented player of my time, a guy who had extraordinary talents in every facet of cricket. In hindsight he probably didn't reach the heights that he should have, based on his cricket ability, but the guys who played with him and against him will recognise he was a fantastic player, who was dynamic in anything he did in cricket. When he was on he was unplayable. He bowled a swinging ball, he could hit the ball a mile, throw it like a bullet and he was a fantastic catcher either close to the wicket or in the outfield – a supreme cricketer. He was a very popular person, Gus, a bit of a larrikin and very much liked by everyone. He didn't take life all that seriously, played for the enjoyment of it.

He was made 12th man for the first two tests. Six wickets against Otago saw him back in the eleven for the third test. He took seven wickets in a Test at Auckland, which included 5 for 64 in the first innings to set up a series-tying victory.

Gilmour was made 12th man for the third test with the selectors deciding to play Max Walker at his MCG home ground.

In 2009 he was appointed manager of the Newcastle representative cricket team.

He has been made a member of Waratah Primary School's Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was "named one of the best 30 players to have played one-day cricket for Australia". In 2010, the new training nets at Lugar Park, Kotara, were named in his honour.

In 2003 he would reflect that from "a financial point of view" joining World Series Cricket was the correct decision but "from a career point of view... I don't know. The jury's still out."

There was some talk Gilmour might return to NSW ranks in 1981–82 but it did not happen. He did score a 102 off 101 balls for Country Northern against Country Southern.

In 1980–81 he scored 59 for Newcastle against the touring New Zealanders. He heel injury brought an early end to his summer.

In 1979 Gilmour, reflecting on WSC, said "I don't think I would have rushed into it like I rushed into it before."

He began the 1979–80 season well taking 5–35 and scoring 35 in a trial game. He was selected in the NSW side for the first Sheffield Shield game of the season, against WA. He took two catches and went for 0–93 and 1–11.

Gilmour began the 1978–79 season well with 5–20 in a warm-up game but was suspended for being "a bit overweight" on a tour of New Zealand. He was given a month to lose the weight and succeeded.

Highlights of the 1978–79 summer included putting on 75 in 51 minutes with Ian Chappell in a one-day game and taking a hat trick in a one-day game against the West Indies.

He toured the West Indies in 1978 with the Australian World Series team.

Gilmour kept his place in the side for the Centenary Test at Melbourne in March 1977. Gilmour later says he "was a fool" for not pulling out of the test. He scored 4 in Australia's first innings then bowled five overs to take 0–4. In Australia's second innings he made 16, and was only called on to bowl four overs (conceding 29 runs) in England's run chase, despite England scoring 417.

His poor form saw him omitted for selection on the 1977 Australian tour of England.

Gilmour had a patchy World Series Cricket. He was called into the main side when Dennis Lillee fell injured for the 4th Supertest in 1977–78 against the World XI. Gilmour took 3–103 and 4–26 in a game that Australia lost; he scored 10 and 26 (off 19 balls) with the bat.

Gilmour toured South Africa in 1976 with an International Wanderers side managed by Richie Benaud.

Gilmour's best season was in 1975–76. He started well, taking 5–75 and scoring 40 for NSW against Queensland. He followed this with scores of 65 and 75 and three wickets against WA (Kim Hughes's first-class debut). He scored 74 against South Australia and took three wickets for NSW against the touring West Indians.

Competition for fast bowling places in the Australian team was intense at this time, especially once Dennis Lillee returned from injury and Jeff Thomson struck form. Gilmour wasn't selected for the 1974–75 Ashes series, with the selectors preferring Max Walker as the third pace bowler.

Gilmour was selected in the New South Wales team to play South Australia in January 1972. He scored 40 in the first innings and 122 in the second. He also took 2–27 and 0–40.

In 1970–71 he was selected in the State Colts team.

He was picked in the Australian Schoolboys team to tour the West Indies in 1969–70.

He was awarded two "Blues" by the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association: in 1967 (baseball) and 1969 (cricket).

Gary "Gus" John Gilmour (26 June 1951 – 10 June 2014) was an Australian cricketer who played in 15 Tests and five One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1973 and 1977.

Gary John Gilmour was born on 26 June 1951 in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah. He attended Waratah Primary School and Newcastle Boys High School.

Gilmour pressed for selection in the test side with some strong performances in tour games. This included six wickets against Kent, and 40 and 46 against Glamorgan. However he was made 12th man for the first two tests, despite scoring 102 in 75 minutes against Sussex. The selectors preferred Max Walker as third paceman.