As the England team relax following their latest win in the one-day series against New Zealand they may well have a wry smile on their lips when casting a glance at events in Johannesburg.

Back in June, Adam Gilchrist tore into England's attack with a ferocity seldom seen in Test matches, scoring 152 from just 143 balls.

As the slaughter increased he took Australia into an impregnable position in that first Ashes Test, giving the visitors an advantage they never surrendered.

This time however, Gilchrist surpassed even that astonishing innings.

Fastest ever

The utter belief Gilchrist showed with every stroke as he registered his first double-century in Test cricket sapped the strength of the South African bowlers.

His effort was the fastest ever Test double century taking 212 balls, which surpassed Ian Botham's previous best of 220 recorded against India in 1982.

The Western Australian gave another demonstration of why he is regarded as one of the most exciting batsmen in world cricket.

His strokeplay square of the cricket was nothing short of sensational with cut after cut bisecting the field perfectly.

At one point, captain Mark Boucher was left deploying a leg side field of five men on the boundary rope but Gilchrist still managed to beat them all.

All the South African attack were treated harshly, even Makhaya Ntini who bowled with a great deal of heart and no little skill.

Golden moment

Nicky Boje was a particular favourite, with Gilchrist smashing the left-arm spinner over the midwicket boundary for consecutive sixes.

But the best moment almost came off Neil McKenzie as Gilchrist missed the advertising board which promised a gold bar to any who struck it by the narrowest of margins.

The disappointment as the ball flew past and out of the ground was evident and it was the closest he came.

There were lulls in the action as Gilchrist began both the morning and afternoon sessions in studious fashion.

His second fifty took just 33 balls and whilst his third took a more leisure 61, his fourth and final half-century came in 30.

Mention must be made of his partner Martyn, who gave steady support whilst Gilchrist was flying but stepped up the pace himself during the wicketkeeper's slower episodes.