There's a common misconception abroad that Australian fans like their sports stars to be brash, cocky and brimming with braggadocio.

BBC: Cycling fans' endurance rewarded

Plenty of adjectives could be used to describe Gillespie: proud, cocky, adamant, verbose, ill-advised, rash, even stupid.

CNN: Caught on tape

How to be smart, in the moment, without being cocky.

FORBES: Three Steps to Handling the Unexpected