Gary Sobers in his element for the Windies

In breaking the world record for the fastest ever double century in Test cricket, 'Gilly' not only put us in an incredibly strong position in the Test, he also batted with the destruction of a hurricane through a coastal fishing village.

Returning to the crease on his overnight score of 30, he went about scoring another 170 runs in two sessions of play.

The same evening he told me he was disappointed that day one had come to an end because he couldn't remember ever seeing the ball so clearly.

He was hitting the ball so characteristically sweetly that he would have like to have spent more time in the middle capitalizing on his form.

Obviously he should never have worried and a good night's sleep only helped with his clear vision, as he set about humiliating the South African attack.

In striking eight massive sixes and a plethora of boundaries along the carpet-like surface, he humbled the hosts in four awe-inspiring hours.

Another landmark safely negotiated by Gilly

Batting with his West Australian team-mate Damien Martyn, the two both passed their fifth Test centuries in building up our own Mount Everest in the centre of Wanderers Stadium.

The ground is also known as the Bull Ring here in Johannesburg and the two stylish batsmen played the matador.

They teased the South African bowlers with red capes in the form of cricket bats that looked about a metre wide.

As for the classy Adam Gilchrist, feats like his will soon have him sitting alongside the great Sobers in hypothetical cricket selections for many, many years to come.

His all-round ability with the bat and gloves have him in my team of all time.

There could never have been a wicket-keeper in the history of this wonderful game that could brutalize an opposition attack like he did on Saturday.

...From Johannesburg

JL