Who is Adam Gilchrist?
Adam Gilchrist is a former Australian wicketkeeper-batter who changed the role with his aggressive batting. He played 96 Tests and 287 one-day internationals, winning three World Cups.
Gilchrist was born in Bellingen, New South Wales, in 1971. He played state cricket for New South Wales and Western Australia before making his ODI debut in 1996 and Test debut in 1999.
He became famous for hitting the ball hard from the start of his innings. He scored 17 Test centuries and 16 ODI centuries, extraordinary numbers for a wicketkeeper.
The squash ball
In the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, Gilchrist scored 149 from 104 balls. He later revealed that he had placed a squash ball inside his glove to improve his grip.
He was also known for walking when he knew he was out, even when the umpire had not given him out. This sportsmanship earned him respect around the world.
Gilchrist was part of Australia's World Cup wins in 1999, 2003 and 2007. After retiring in 2008, he became a popular commentator. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
Gilchrist's 57-ball Test century against England in Perth in 2006 was then the second-fastest in Test history.