Australian cricketing legend Adam Gilchrist has followed in the footsteps of the late Shane Warne, inviting his Fox Cricket commentary team for a dinner at his Perth home.
Warne, who tragically passed in March this year, was famous for his Boxing Day functions where celebrities, friends and famous cricketers would mingle at his home in a night of celebration.
Now Gilchrist, who has taken the mantle as captain of Fox’s commentary team, will reportedly keep the tradition going on the second night of the Perth Test according to The Daily Telegraph.
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It has been an emotional period for Australian cricket following the passing of Warne, legendary all-rounder Andrew Symonds and great wicketkeeper Rod Marsh.
“Warnie when we went to Melbourne each year, he always took everyone around to his place for dinner and it was elaborate,” Fox Sports chief executive Steve Crawley said.
“He was such a sharing guy and he really put on a great show with caterers. It was just unbelievable how generous he was,” said Fox Sports chief, Steve Crawley.
“The second night in Perth, Gilly and his wife Mel are having us around to his place.
“We’ve always said we never want to capitalise off Warnie and Roy’s deaths. But at the same time we want to lift and they’re a big part of why we will lift.
“We want to be better. We don’t want to cover for them. We actually want to be better.
“We want to be considered in all of our commentary.
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“People will say, ‘yeah, good on you,’ and say, this is a publicity stunt. But this is the way we think.
“Everyone understands what Warnie means to the team, and Andrew Symonds.”
Pat Cummins’ Australia side will kick off their Test summer on Wednesday afternoon (1:20pm AEDT) against the West Indies at Perth Stadium.
The pitch has been revealed ahead of the clash and it could favour the bowlers, with 12mm of grass being left by the curator, with most decks closer to 8mm.
While the curator was initially fearful temperatures in high 30s on Tuesday could cause the pitch to crack, rain has begun falling in Perth.
Scott Boland is the only omission from the team who last played a Test match in January.
Nathan Lyon will be looking to bring up 450 Test wickets this summer with just 12 to get (438) and is a lock after being the only spinner named in the squad.
For the West Indies, only four players from their last tour in 2015/16 return in captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Jermaine Blackwood.
All-rounder Raymond Reifer has also been ruled out of the Test series with a groin injury and will return home.
The 31-year-old has featured only three times in the Test arena since making his debut in 2017 against New Zealand.
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas
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