Adam Gilchrist

Adam Craig Gilchrist, born 14 November 1971 in Bellingen, New South Wales, is a former Australian international cricketer and captain, now a commentator. A left-handed batsman known for his aggressive style, he revolutionised the wicket-keeper’s role for Australia. Considered the finest wicket-keeper-batsman in cricket history, he once held the world record for most ODI dismissals by a wicket-keeper (surpassed by Kumar Sangakkara in 2015) and still holds the Australian record in Test cricket. His strike rate ranks among the highest in both Test and ODI formats.

Decline and revival

He was the first player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket, and his 57-ball century against England in Perth (December 2006) is the fourth-fastest in Test history. Among wicket-keepers, his 17 Test centuries and 16 ODI centuries are second only to Sangakkara. He uniquely scored at least 50 runs in three consecutive World Cup finals (1999, 2003, 2007), with his 149 off 101 balls against Sri Lanka in the 2007 final considered one of the greatest World Cup innings. He is one of only three players to win three World Cup titles, part of Australia’s hat-trick of World Cup wins (1999, 2003, 2007) and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.

Gilchrist was known for walking when he believed he was out, even against the umpire’s decision. He made his first-class debut in 1992, his ODI debut in 1996 in India, and his Test debut in 1999. He played 96 Tests and over 270 ODIs for Australia, serving as regular vice-captain and captaining when Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting were unavailable. He retired from international cricket in March 2008 but continued in domestic tournaments until 2013.

Early and personal life

Born the youngest of four children, he lived in Dorrigo, Junee, and Deniliquin, where he won the Brian Taber Shield playing for Deniliquin South Public School. At 13, his family moved to Lismore, where he captained Kadina High School’s cricket team.

He was selected for the state under-17 team and, in 1989, received a scholarship from London’s Richmond Cricket Club (a scheme he now supports). During that year, he also played for Old Actonians Cricket Club’s under-17 team, winning the Middlesex League and Cup double. He later played grade cricket for Gordon District and Northern Districts in Sydney.

He married his high school sweetheart, Melinda Sharpe, a dietitian; they have three sons and a daughter. Before the 2007 World Cup, his family was in the spotlight when an impending birth threatened his participation—the child was born in February, allowing him to play.

Domestic career

In 1991, Gilchrist was selected for the Australia Young Cricketers team, touring England and scoring a century and a fifty in three youth Tests. Later that year, he joined the Australian Cricket Academy, playing matches against state second XIs and touring South Africa. Returning to Australia, he scored two centuries in four matches for state Colts and Second XI teams, earning his first-class debut for New South Wales in 1992–93 as a batsman (incumbent wicketkeeper Phil Emery kept). In his debut season, New South Wales won the Sheffield Shield; Gilchrist scored an unbeaten 20 in the final.

He made 274 runs at 30.44, with a best of 75. He also debuted in the Mercantile Mutual limited-overs competition. The following season, he played only three first-class matches, scoring 43 runs at 8.60; New South Wales won both competitions, but Gilchrist was left out of finals and played no limited-overs matches.

Lacking opportunities in a dominant New South Wales side, he moved to Western Australia for the 1994–95 season, competing with former Test player Tim Zoehrer for the wicketkeeper role. After a century in a pre-season trial, he took Zoehrer’s place. Initially met with hostility from local fans, he won them over.

He made 55 first-class dismissals that season, the most by any Australian domestic wicketkeeper, but struggled with the bat (398 runs at 26.53, with seven single-figure scores), though he scored his maiden first-class century (126 against South Australia). He was selected for the Young Australia team that toured England in 1995, scoring 490 runs at 70.00 with two centuries. His second season in Perth saw him top the dismissals again with 58 catches and four stumpings.