Gilchrist warns of the banter that bites back

Adam Gilchrist learned from humbling experience that the danger implicit in trash talking before a Test campaign is the potential it carries to haunt you throughout the remainder of the series, and perhaps for much longer.

The preamble to the Magellan Ashes Series that begins in Brisbane tomorrow has descended into a war of words, the most recent skirmish triggered by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon’s comments that escalated into a volley of social media crossfire launched by a veterans’ corps of ex-players.

Opinions as to whether such verbal artillery merely constitutes spirited banter that helps build anticipation and publicity, or is unnecessarily distasteful and occasionally shows disrespect for opponents and the game invariably depends on the patriotic lens through which it is viewed.

But Gilchrist, who admits he was no shrinking violet throughout his 96 Test and 300 limited-overs appearances for Australia, dismisses suggestions that some of the recent barbs have crossed the line that separates banter from boorishness and believes it is symptomatic of the growth in social media.

Which he remains grateful was not a pervasive influence by the time he quit the international game a decade ago.

“They’re big boys, they can do what they want and they’ve all grown up in the age of social media,” Gilchrist told cricket.com.au today.

“They know it better than I do.

“I didn’t want to say too much at all leading into a series, let alone in a public forum like that.

“But it’s making great entertainment, and it’s inevitable – it’s human nature – that some of it will spill over into the contest.

“The England boys will be monitoring what a couple of their ex-players have said and done, and so too will the Aussies.

“And I’m sure it will add to the fire that is carried on to the field at some stage.”

Gilchrist also pointed out that the role of pre-series provocateur was largely filled by Glenn McGrath during his playing days, with the ex-Test seamer routinely predicting a clean-sweep in favour of Australia and boldly nominating which opposing batter he would actively target.

But Australia’s foremost keeper-batsman also revealed that his reticence to engage in verbal stoushes off the field was fuelled by a fear of having his utterances used against him in the heat of battle.

A concern that he admits was laid bare in the prelude to the 2005 Ashes campaign in the UK, a series remembered as one of the most compelling Test encounters of the modern era but one that Gilchrist rates as a personal low-point of an otherwise memorable career.

“I didn’t shy away from a confrontation on the field if it flared up, but I didn’t go looking for it,” he said.

“On the odd occasion, as soon as I said something I wished that I could have those words back because – from that moment on – I was nervous about either dropping a catch next ball or losing my middle stump next ball, depending on whether I was keeping or batting.

“And it was hard to get a word in pre-series because McGrath was pretty much taking up the headlines there.

“I think the only regret of something that I said pre-series was in 2005 when I landed in England.

“It was a bit of throwaway line, it wasn’t exactly barbed or pointed, but I said I don’t ever want to be part of an Aussie team that hands over the Ashes, with Australia having dominated England for 18 years or so.

“And of course, we gave up the Ashes that series.”

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21