Happy birthday Adam Gilchrist: The most crucial position on the cricket field, inarguably, is that of the wicket-keeper. A safe pair of gloves behind the stumps forms a pivotal part of any successful team. Australia’s unparalleled dominance in the international arena for over a decade has been studied by many pundits, and its architects have received plaudits across the world.
One such architect was Adam Gilchrist, who was the wicket-keeper for Australia almost right through that phase when the team’s performance bordered on invincibility. But, he was no ordinary keeper-batsman; his feats and accomplishments safely assure him of a place in the pantheon of cricketing legends.
Behind the stumps or in front of them, Gilchrist was a force to reckon with. His dignity on and off the field is still an indelible part of his legacy.
Let us relive a few records that proves Adam Gilchrist was one of the greatest Australian cricketers to have graced the field:-
Most centuries by an Australian against Sri Lanka as wicket-keeper
- Gilchrist had a special love for performing against Sri Lanka, as he holds the record of smashing the most centuries against the side (7).
- While six of the centuries have come in ODIs, only one has come in the Tests.
- Interestingly, he has smashed just 16 tons in ODIs.
- This proves his dominance against the Lankans.
Only Australian with 100 sixes in Tests
- Gilchrist was known for his explosive and prolific batting.
- Owing to his very nature of his, he had the tendency to go for the big shots against the bowlers, regardless of the format he played.
- In the same light, he holds the record of being the only Australian to hit 100 sixes in the longest format of the game.
Fastest Test century as an Australian
- Gilchrist also had a unique tendency to play a fast innings, and playing mostly down in the order in Test cricket, it gave him the freedom to go big.
- Consequently, he holds the record to smash the fastest century in the format by an Australian, in just 57 deliveries, against England in Perth, in 2006.
- Overall, it is the fourth-fastest in the format.
Most dismissals in an ICC World Cup as wicket-keeper
- Besides his lethal batting, Gilchrist was also known for his fine wicket-keeping skills.
- As for the same, he also holds a unique record of scripting the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper in an ICC World Cup.
- It was during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, where he scalped 21 dismissals, a record matched by
- New Zealand’s Tom Latham in 2019.
Highest score in a World Cup final
- Gilchrist was known to be in ruthless form in the World Cup, especially during the final.
- Having smashed a record three half-centuries in the final of the three tournament finals he played, his score of 149 is the highest ever score in a World Cup final.
- He scripted the record in the 2007 final against Lanka in Barbados, which Australia won by 53 runs.
Some lesser-known things about the Australian great:
- Adam Gilchrist Was Born On November 14, 1971, In A Small Town Of Bellingen In New South Wales, Australia.
- Gilchrist Has Two Nicknames. He Was Called ‘Gilly’ In The Australian Dressing Room And Was Called ‘Churchy’ By His Close Friends.
- His Favourite Destination Is Surprisingly Noosa, Which Is A Small Beach Town In Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
- Before Australia’s Tour Of India In 2004, Gilchrist Promised To Dedicate A Century To His Cancer-Stricken Friend. He Scored 104 In The 1st Test And Kept His Word.
- Interestingly, Gilchrist Took Up Wicket-Keeping Because Of His Fascination With The Wicket-Keeping Gloves, Its Shape And Size.
- Adam Gilchrist Once Admitted His Worst Habit Is Biting Nails.
- The Left-Handed Batsman Is The Only Wicket-Keeper To Score At Least Fifty Or More Runs In Three Consecutive World Cup Finals.
- Gilchrist held the record for most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in One-Day Internationals, until it was surpassed by Sangakkara in 2015. Gilchrist was also the first player to smash 100 sixes in Test cricket.
