Gilchrist tore bowling attacks apart with some destructive hitting

The 36-year-old will bow out at the end of the triangular one-day series against India and Sri Lanka.

He will finish with more than 5,500 runs and 400 dismissals in Tests to his name.

And leading figures inside the game have been saluting his achievements.

"The greatest wicketkeeper-batsman the game has even seen. Wicketkeeper-batsmen will always be compared to Gilly and they will never be as good."
Former Australia captain Kim Hughes

"It's very easy to talk about his batting, but it was his glovework right from day one, in his first Test match in Brisbane, that I liked."
Gilchrist's predecessor Ian Healy

He revolutionised the game in terms of being a wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher South Africa wicket-keeper

"He changed the way countries would look at wicket-keepers - people only picked keepers who could bat really well. And that wasn't just it. What really worked for Australia was Gilchrist coming in at number seven and changing the complexion of a game single-handedly."
India Test captain Anil Kumble

"By what he has done, everybody else will measure how a wicket-keeper should be selected in terms of the balance of your side. His batting and keeping established him as an all-time great of the game."
Former Australia coach John Buchanan

"He revolutionised the game in terms of being a wicketkeeper-batsman. He is the guy who set the tone for everyone else in the game, and he has changed it forever."
South African Mark Boucher, whose record for Test dismissals Gilchrist broke last week

"I've never seen a man with his job description shape the course of so many games."
Former Australia wicket-keeper Rod Marsh

"A very, very dangerous player to be up against. A great person too."
India batsman Sourav Ganguly

"He was a fantastic player and a great opponent. You didn't feel comfortable until you got him out."
South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock

"I still maintain he was the only batsman that I've ever really played with who can walk out from ball one and hit the ball in the middle of the bat."
Former Australia Test batsman Justin Langer

"He has not only been an outstanding player, he's a great bloke as well. He played with absolute freedom and no fear of failure, setting a benchmark that is incredibly difficult for others."
England one-day skipper Paul Collingwood