204* at Jo'burg, 22-23 Feb
138* at Cape Town, 9 Mar
Australia have redefined dominance in the last few years, and no man has embodied the new meaning of that term more than Adam Gilchrist did against South Africa in early 2002. At 293 for 5 in the first Test at Johannesburg, Australia were healthy but not yet on top. Then Gilchrist mauled South Africa's bowlers for eight sixes and 19 fours on his way to 204 not out off just 213 balls - the fastest recorded Test double-century at the time. A battered South Africa gave way easily. Then, like a recurring nightmare, Gilchrist hit them again in the next Test at Cape Town. Australia were 176 for 5 when Gilchrist effortlessly made a hundred off 91 balls and then, with only Glenn McGrath for company, went berserk, taking 36 off two Paul Adams overs. In those two innings, he seemed superhuman, as if he could do anything. And when he was in the zone, so was cricket. Amit Varma

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