Adam Gilchrist

Adam Craig Gilchrist is an international cricketer from Australia who presently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained the team of Middlesex. He is a record-breaking wicket-keeper and an attacking left handed batsman. In the history of cricket he is regarded as one of the best wicket keeper batsman. Gilchrist is famous for a peculiar habit. When he thinks he is out then he walks back to the pavilion although it is opposite to the umpire’s decision.

Gilchrist studied in the Deniliquin South Public School and at this school he won the Brian Taber Shield. He was the captain of the Kadina High School cricket team when he was 13. The London based Richmond Cricket Club offered him a scholarship in 1989 and currently this scheme is supported by Gilchrist.

Gilchrist’s domestic career began in the year 1992. In the 1992-93 season Gilchrist debuted in first class cricket for New South Wales. He played only as a batsman that time but due to absence of a wicket keeper he decided to take up wicket keeping for that tournament which he became permanent in the future. He scored only 20 runs in the finals. Gilchrist became a member of Western Warriors in Western Australia in 1994. Here he controversially substituted Tim Zoehrer as wicket keeper. In his first season he made 55 dismissals which are the maximum by any wicket keeper in 1994-95 in Australian domestic cricket.

On 25 October 1996 Gilchrist made his One day International debut for Australia at Faridabad against South Africa. He scored only 18 runs and took his first catch as an international wicket keeper in that match.

During the successful World Cup campaign by Australia in 1999 Gilchrist played in each match. While playing against Bangladesh he scored 63 runs in 39 deliveries and facilitated the entry of Australia in the Super Six stage of the Cup. In the final against Pakistan he scored a half century which enabled Australia to have an eight wicket triumph over Pakistan to secure the first world title for Australia after the 1987 World Cup.

In November 1999, Gilchrist debuted in Test cricket at the Gabba in Brisbane while playing against Pakistan. He was the 381st Test cricketer for Australia. In the first match he scored fast 81 runs, stumped Azhar Mahmood off the bowling of Shane Warne and took five catches. In the Carlton and United Series also Gilchrist was very successful and in the best of three final Australia defeated Pakistan by 2-0.

The 2007 World Cup final was the last ODI match for Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist and Australia started their 2007 World Cup campaign successfully. In the final Gilchrist scored 149 runs in 104 deliveries that comprised of eight sixes and thirteen fours which was the highest individual score in a World Cup final and eventually Australia was once again the World Cup champions.

Career Highlights

Gilchrist was one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2002. He was also awarded with the Allan Border Medal in 2003. Moreover, he was regarded as Australia’s One-day International Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

Till date, Adam has been a part of various matches. He has played in 96 test matches, 287 ODIs, 13 T20Is, 190 First class, 356 List A matches and in almost 82 Twenty20 matches.