Gilchrist asks spectator to turn in historic ball

Sixes specialist Adam Gilchrist yesterday made a fervent appeal to the spectator who picked up the ball that brought up his 100th career six after the towering shot over mid-wicket sailed out of the ground on the second day of the second cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Australia in Hobart.

Gilchrist said he was not chasing behind the prized ball but would be fascinated to have it in his collection of memorabilia.

"I'd like to have this ball. It's a unique item to have and I'll be grateful to anyone if I could have it", said Gilchrist. The Australian wicket-keeper, who only two days ago was adjudged the nation's greatest one-day player, slog-swept Muralitharan to record the historic feat which made him the only batsman to reach the rare milestone.

But the modest stroke-maker was uncertain of the feat and realised it only after hitting his 98th six against a ball from paceman Lasith Malinga. "I hadn't thought about it until I hit Malinga for a six. Then it was two free-flowing sixes (against Muralitharan)", he said.

Gilchrist said he was fortunate not to know the variety of the ball sent down by Muralitharan that brought up the record and gave the unknown fan a piece of history. CD