Former Australian cricketer Gary 'Gus' Gilmour dies aged 62
He was at the front of the queue when they were handing out talent, said Ian Chappell
Sydney: Swing bowling all-rounder Gary Gilmour, who played 15 cricket tests for Australia between 1973 and 1977 and was one of the stars of the inaugural World Cup in 1975, died Tuesday at the age of 62.
Cricket officials said Gilmour battled health problems for several years and complications escalated after a recent fall.
The left-armer took figures of 6-14 against England in the 1975 World Cup semi-final.
The then 23-year-old also claimed 5-48 in the final, which Australia lost to the West Indies.
Gilmour underwent a liver transplant in 2005, when his former captain Ian Chappell led a number of former teammates to raise money for the operation.
"He was at the front of the queue when they were handing out talent, but unfortunately he was right at the back of the queue when they handed out health and good luck," Chappell told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.
"He had unbelievable ability and I think that was best summed up by his performance in the World Cup semi-final. We were desperate to win that game, not just because it was England, our great rivals. But they didn't think we could play one-day cricket. Gus swung the ball all over the place, and then he got us home with the bat."
Gilmour scored 483 runs for an average of 23 in his test career that included one century. He also claimed 54 wickets at an average of 26.
Fairfax said Gilmour's wife, Helen, and their family were also mourning the recent death of their son, Clint, from brain cancer at the age of 33. The couple had two other sons and a daughter.
Former Australia test cricketer and popular broadcaster Kerry O'Keeffe said in a tweet: "Gus Gilmour has passed away... a sad day...had not an enemy in the game."