Birthday special: Adam Gilchrist – One of the most exciting wicketkeeper-batsmen
The record-breaking wicket-keeper batsman, Adam Gilchrist, redefined the form of the Australian national team through his explosive batting. Regarded as one of the best wicket-keeping batsmen to have ever graced world cricket, Gilchrist had many records to his name. The left-handed batsman had the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODI cricket until 2015. It was surpassed by Kumar Sangakkara in 2015 but is still at the top for most dismissals by an Australian cricketer in Test format.
His strike rate is noted as amongst the highest ones by the batters in the history of cricket in both ODI and Test format. He smashed a 57-ball century back in 2006 against the English team, and it is the fourth-fastest ton in the longest format of the game. Adding to his bag of records and achievements, he was the first player to hit 100 sixes in the Test format. His batting prowess, along with the splendid skills behind the wicket, turned out to be talismanic for the Kangaroos.
He has 17 centuries in the Test format and 16 in the ODI, which stands to be the second-highest by a wicket-keeper just next to Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara. Very few might know about a unique record under his belt, but he was one wonder-man, and so are his records. He owns a record of scoring at least 50 runs in three straight World Cup finals. (1999, 2003, and 2007). His terrific innings against Sri Lanka in the WC finals is termed as one of the most phenomenal knocks of all time.
Gilchrist’s career at a glance
He scored 149 off 104 balls in the 2007 WC final to complete a spectacular victory for the Australian team by 53 runs. He is one of only three players to win three World Cup titles in his glorious career. The respectable southpaw was known for leaving the pitch silently when he considered himself to be out, which was sometimes contrary to the umpire’s decision.
He played 96 Test matches to score 5570 runs at a strike rate of 81.96. Gilchrist scored 9619 runs in 287 ODIs at a strike rate of 96.95. He took a huge 379 catches in Tests and 415 in ODI cricket. The greatest wicket-keeping batsman bowed out of the gentlemen’s game in 2008 from the international arena.
