Adam Gilchrist, Paul Collingwood, Tillakaratne Dilshan & Others: Talking It out

What he said:

“He’s come of age I think, and I have just aged. I have never been hit on my head before. “

Adam Gilchrist reacts to being hit on the side of the head by a Lasith Malinga bouncer.

What he really meant:

“If I cannot out of the way of a bouncer anymore, I am surely getting older.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’ve been appointed by Puma to test their helmets. Lasith, have another go on the fresh one.”

“For my team’s owner, Preity Zinta and her wonderful inspirational speech, I’ll take all the hits, Malinga!”

What he said:

“So when Geoff Miller told me, it was like a juggernaut had come along at full steam and completely wiped me out … just disbelief.”

Paul Collingwood on his axing as England’s T20 captain.

What he really meant:

“I’m shell-shocked and steaming.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m gonna find out how a juggernaut runs on steam engines.”

What he said:

“Next season I’ll need a bullet-proof chest pad as Gayle is hitting them like a rocket.”

Tillakaratne Dilshan on Chris Gayle’s blazing form for Royal Challengers Bangalore and how he’s enjoying the close-up view.

What he really meant:

“The way Gayle’s playing, I’m safer in the pod.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“If I get the bullet-proof chest guard, I’m touring Pakistan.

What he said:

“”I don’t want to think too much about that. I am taking one thing at a time. I just want to concentrate on the IPL. I want to win the trophy for Mumbai. By thinking too much you just confuse yourself.”

Rohit Sharma claiming that he is not thinking of an India cap yet.

What he really meant:

“If I play well, then I can expect an India call, but why count my chickens before they’ve hatched? It’ll be like putting the cart before the horse.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I don’t think.”

What he said:

“We made some appalling selections in India and our team did not look like they could win an egg cup let alone the World Cup.”

Geoffrey Boycott making it clear that England needs to take a hard, bold look at their approach in the shorter format of the game.

What he really meant:

“The English team at the World Cup were pathetically inconsistent. I threw in that egg cup bit to bolster my point.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’ll coach this team into winning at croquet and lacrosse.As a bonus, I’ll teach them to putt into an egg cup from six yards.”

All quotes when not linked are sourced from http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/quote/index.html