On the 19th of April 2006, one of the most unlikely chapters in Australian cricketing folklore was written – that being, Jason Gillespie scoring an unbeaten 201 as a nightwatchman.

The previous year Gillespie had been dumped from the Australian test side after being taken apart by the English batsmen during the 2005 Ashes series. To be fair, he looked finished as a top-level cricketer and it seemed unlikely he would ever don the baggy green cap again.

However, ‘Dizzy’ was selected for the two-test series against Bangladesh following the unavailability of Glenn McGrath and later withdrawals of Michael Kasprowicz and Shaun Tait.

After an intriguing first test that Australia struggled to win, all eyes were on Chittagong for the next game where an improved performance from the tourists was expected.

Although usually slotting in as a number ten batsman (second-to-last, for those not familiar with cricket), Gillespie did play with a fairly straight bat and had been promoted up the order on previous occasions to act as a nightwatchman. This turned out to be the case nearing the end of day one of the second test with Bangladesh being bowled out for 197 – and with Matthew Hayden being dismissed during Australia’s reply close to stumps.

Having taken three early wickets that morning, Jason Gillespie then strode out to bat at number three near the end of the day’s play, and the rest was history.

Gillespie survived until stumps on day one, and was still at the crease at the end of a rain-affected second day on 28 not out, with Australia 2-151.

Nearing the end of a rain-shortened third day, Gillespie would become only the third nightwatchman (at the time) to score a century. Australia would close the day on 3-364 with Gillespie 102* and Mike Hussey also unbeaten on 93.

But it would be on day four when history would be made, helped along by an incredible 320 run partnership between Gillespie and Hussey, which ended when the latter was dismissed for a quick 182 from 203 balls.

Then just after lunch, the moment arrived when Gillespie tickled a ball to the fine leg fence to bring up his double century and trigger Australia’s declaration at 4-581. In an incredible feat spanning four days of cricket, Gillespie’s 201 not out came after facing 425 balls and an outrageous 570 minutes at the crease. He hit 26 fours and 2 sixes.

Australia would go on to win the game comfortably, with Jason Gillespie named ‘player of the match’. However, this would be his last appearance in a test match as Gillespie would be later overlooked for the 2006/07 Ashes series.

Below is a link to a video from Wide World of Sports that better represents this sporting miracle than my words ever could.

Video courtesy of Wide World of Sports YouTube Channel. Photos courtesy of Cricinfo and other online sources.