146 Facts About Adam Gilchrist

Adam Craig Gilchrist is an Australian cricket commentator and former international cricketer and captain of the Australia national cricket team.

Adam Gilchrist was an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australia national team through his aggressive batting.

Widely regarded as the greatest wicket-keeper-batsman in the history of the game, Gilchrist held the world record for the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in One Day International cricket until it was surpassed by Kumar Sangakkara in 2015 and the most by an Australian in Test cricket.

Adam Gilchrist was a member of the Australian team that won three consecutive world titles in a row: the 1999 Cricket World Cup, the 2003 Cricket World Cup, and the 2007 Cricket World Cup, along with winning the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.

Adam Gilchrist was the first player to have hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.

Adam Gilchrist holds the unique record of scoring at least 50 runs in successive World Cup finals.

Adam Gilchrist is one of only three players to have won three World Cup titles.

Adam Gilchrist was renowned for walking when he considered himself to be out, sometimes contrary to the decision of the umpire.

Adam Gilchrist made his first-class debut in 1992, his first One-Day International appearance in 1996 in India and his Test debut in 1999.

Adam Gilchrist was Australia's regular vice-captain in both forms of the game, captaining the team when regular captains Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting were unavailable.

Adam Gilchrist retired from international cricket in March 2008, though he continued to play domestic tournaments until 2013.

Adam Gilchrist was born in 1971 at Bellingen Hospital, in Bellingen, New South Wales, the youngest of four children.

Adam Gilchrist was selected for the state under-17 team, and in 1989 he was offered a scholarship by London-based Richmond Cricket Club, a scheme he now supports himself.

Adam Gilchrist moved to Sydney and joined the Gordon District Cricket Club in Sydney Grade Cricket, later moving to Northern Districts.

Adam Gilchrist is married to his high school sweetheart Melinda, a dietitian, and they have three sons and a daughter.

Adam Gilchrist's family came under the spotlight in the months leading up to the 2007 Cricket World Cup as one impending birth threatened his presence in the squad; the child was born in February and Gilchrist was able to take part in the tournament.

In 1991, Adam Gilchrist was selected for the Australia Young Cricketers, a national youth team that toured England and played in youth ODIs and Tests.

Adam Gilchrist scored a century and a fifty in the three Tests.

Adam Gilchrist made 274 runs at an average of 30.44 in his debut season, a score of 75 being his only effort beyond fifty.

Adam Gilchrist made his debut in Mercantile Mutual limited overs competition.

Adam Gilchrist struggled to keep his place in the side, playing only three first-class matches in the following season.

Adam Gilchrist scored on 43 runs at 8.60; New South Wales won both competitions, but Gilchrist was overlooked for both finals and did not play a single limited overs match.

The local fans were initially hostile to the move, but Adam Gilchrist won them over.

Adam Gilchrist was rewarded with selection in the Young Australia team that toured England in 1995 and played matches against the English counties.

Adam Gilchrist starred with bat, scoring 490 runs at 70.00 with two centuries.

The Warriors made it to the final of the Sheffield Shield, at the Adelaide Oval, where Adam Gilchrist scored 189 not out in the first innings, from only 187 balls, including five sixes.

Adam Gilchrist scored an unbeaten 76 to help Western Australia secure a narrow three-wicket victory over New South Wales in the penultimate limited overs match of the season, which saw them into the final against Queensland, which was lost.

Adam Gilchrist's form saw him selected for Australia A, a team comprising players close to national selection.

Adam Gilchrist continued to perform strongly on the domestic circuit he topped the dismissals count , with 62, along with a batting average of just under 40, although he failed to post a century.

Team success came in the Mercantile Mutual Cup, where the Warriors won by eight wickets against Queensland in the March 1997 final; Adam Gilchrist was not required to bat.

Adam Gilchrist added 109 against Victoria, and played in the Sheffield Shield final victory over Tasmania, although he scored only eight.

Adam Gilchrist played a total of six seasons in the Indian Premier League, the major Twenty20 franchise league in India, three for Deccan Chargers and three for Kings XI Punjab.

Adam Gilchrist was signed by Deccan for the 2008 season, the inaugural season of the competition, having been purchased for US$700,000 in the player auction a few months after his retirement from international cricket.

In May 2013, Adam Gilchrist announced his retirement from the IPL.

Over his six seasons in the IPL Adam Gilchrist played a total of 82 matches, 48 for Deccan and 34 for Kings XI.

Adam Gilchrist scored more than 2,000 runs, including two centuries.

Adam Gilchrist was the first cricketer to score 1000 runs in IPL.

Adam Gilchrist signed a short-term contract in November 2009 to play Twenty20 cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club in England during 2010.

Adam Gilchrist played in seven matches for the side during the 2010 Twenty20 Cup, scoring 212 runs at an average of 30.28, including a century made against Kent at Canterbury, as well as captaining the county against the touring Australians in a one-day match ahead of their ODI series against England.

Adam Gilchrist was called up for the Australian One Day International team in 1996, his debut coming against South Africa at Faridabad on 25 October 1996 as the 129th Australian ODI cap, after an injury to incumbent Ian Healy.

Adam Gilchrist was run out for a duck in his only other ODI on the tour.

Adam Gilchrist replaced Healy for the first two ODIs in the 1997 Australian tour of South Africa, after Healy was suspended for dissent.

When Healy returned Adam Gilchrist maintained his position in the team as a specialist batsman after Mark Waugh sustained a hand injury.

Adam Gilchrist totalled 127 runs at 31.75 for the series.

Adam Gilchrist's elevation was made possible by a change in policy by selectors, who announced that selection for ODI and Test teams would be separate, with Test and ODI specialists selected accordingly, while Healy remained the preferred Test wicket-keeper.

Adam Gilchrist struggled batting in the lower order at number seven, the conventional wicket-keeper's batting position, scoring 148 runs at 24.66 in the eight qualifying matches.

However, in the second final, Adam Gilchrist struck his maiden ODI century, spearheading Australia's successful run chase at the Sydney Cricket Ground, securing his position as an opening batsman.

Adam Gilchrist effected his first ODI stumping, the wicket of Nathan Astle in the Second ODI in Wellington.

Adam Gilchrist went on to play in the Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah in April 1998, a triangular tournament between Australia, India and New Zealand.

Australia finished runners-up in the tournament, with Adam Gilchrist taking nine dismissals as wicketkeeper and averaging 37.13 with the bat.

Adam Gilchrist won a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, the only time men's cricket has been in the Commonwealth Games.

Adam Gilchrist's 131 helped Australia set a successful run-chase at the SCG, and he followed this with 154 at the MCG.

Adam Gilchrist played in every match of Australia's successful World Cup campaign, but struggled at first, with scores of 6,14 and 0 in the first three matches against Scotland, New Zealand and Pakistan.

Adam Gilchrist continued to struggle in the Super Six phase, scoring 31,10 and 5 against India, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Adam Gilchrist made only 20 in the semifinal against South Africa, but completed the final act of the match.

Adam Gilchrist was the most successful batsman and wicket-keeper of the tournament, with 231 runs at 46.20.

Adam Gilchrist made his Test match debut in the First Test against Pakistan at the Gabba in Brisbane in November 1999 becoming the 381st Australian Test cricketer.

Adam Gilchrist replaced Healy, who was dropped after a run of poor form, despite the incumbent's entreaties to the selectors to allow him a farewell game in front of his home crowd.

Adam Gilchrist continued his strong run throughout his debut Test season, and ended the summer with 485 runs at 69.28 in six matches, three each against Pakistan and India, adding two fifties against the latter.

Adam Gilchrist scored 272 runs at 27.20; his best effort was 92 in a 152-run victory over India on Australia Day.

Adam Gilchrist then scored 251 runs at 41.66 in the ODIs during a tour of New Zealand.

Adam Gilchrist was named man of the match in two of the games.

In two home and away ODI series against South Africa, Adam Gilchrist had a quiet time, scoring 170 runs at 26.66.

Adam Gilchrist scored only 9 and 10 not out, but a ten-wicket haul from Colin Miller resulted in a hard-fought five-wicket victory for Australia.

Adam Gilchrist described the match as "the proudest moment of my career".

Up to this point, Adam Gilchrist had played in 14 Tests, all in Australasia, and all of which had been won.

Adam Gilchrist counterattacked savagely, scoring 122 in just 112 balls, and featuring in a 197-run partnership with Matthew Hayden in only 32 overs.

Adam Gilchrist took six catches and was named Man of the Match in a ten wicket victory, extending the world record run to 16.

Adam Gilchrist's form dipped momentarily, with a rare king pair in the Second Test in Kolkata and just two runs in his two innings in Chennai.

Adam Gilchrist warmed up by putting his ODI struggles on English soil in 1999 behind him, scoring 248 runs at 49.60 in the triangular tournament preceding the Tests, scoring an unbeaten 76 in the final win over Pakistan.

Adam Gilchrist put the disappointment of India behind him in the First Test at Edgbaston, scoring 152 from only 143 balls.

Adam Gilchrist then added 90 in the eight-wicket win in the Second Test at Lord's, before turning the tide in the Third Test at Trent Bridge.

Adam Gilchrist captained the team in the Fourth Test at Headingley after an injury to Steve Waugh.

Adam Gilchrist failed to pass 25 in the last two Tests, but it had been a productive season; he scored centuries in both of Australia's county matches.

Adam Gilchrist scored 118 in the First Test against New Zealand and an unbeaten 83 in the Third Test in Perth as the Australians held on for a draw with three wickets intact.

However, Adam Gilchrist did little in the triumph over South Africa, failing to pass 35.

Adam Gilchrist ended the summer Tests with 353 runs at 50.42.

Adam Gilchrist ended unbeaten on 204, having featured in a partnership of 317 with Damien Martyn at a run rate of 5.5.

Adam Gilchrist then top-scored with 91 in the Third Test, and although Australia lost the match, Gilchrist ended the series with an astonishing 473 at 157.66 from just 474 balls, in addition to 14 dismissals.

Adam Gilchrist captained the ODI team, for a single match, against Kenya in Nairobi during the PSO Tri-Nation Tournament.

Adam Gilchrist warmed up for the World Cup in South Africa by scoring 310 runs at 44.28 in the triangular tournament in Australia against England and Sri Lanka.

Adam Gilchrist played in all but one of the matches in Australia's successful defence of their World Cup title; he was rested for the group match against the Netherlands.

Adam Gilchrist finished the tournament with 408 runs at an average of 40.80 at a strike rate of 105.

Adam Gilchrist scored four half-centuries, and was run out against Sri Lanka in the Super Six stage just a single run short of a century.

The umpire gave no reaction, however Adam Gilchrist walked off the pitch after a moment's pause.

Adam Gilchrist was the competition's most successful wicketkeeper, making 21 dismissals.

Success in the World Cup was followed up by a tour of the West Indies where Adam Gilchrist was part of a side that won both the ODI and Test series.

Adam Gilchrist scored 282 runs at 70.50 with one century in the four Tests, and 212 runs at 35.33 in the ODIs.

Adam Gilchrist then scored 115 runs at 28.75 in two Tests at home to Sri Lanka in mid-2004, and captained in the First Test win in Darwin with Ponting absent.

Adam Gilchrist returned to form when New Zealand toured Australia at the start of southern hemisphere season.

Adam Gilchrist then scored 230 runs at 76.66 in three Tests against Pakistan, including a rapid 113 in the Third Test at the SCG as Australia won all five Tests during the summer.

Adam Gilchrist made it three successive Test centuries with 121 and 162 in the first two Tests on the tour of New Zealand, before ending with an unbeaten 60 in the Third Test; he totalled 343 runs at 114.33 for the series.

Adam Gilchrist was in strong form ahead of the Tests, scoring 393 runs at 49.13 in the ODIs in England.

The highlight was the 121 not out in the final game of the one-day NatWest Series, Adam Gilchrist being awarded the man-of-the-match award.

Australia and Adam Gilchrist returned to form after the Ashes in the series against the ICC World XI.

Adam Gilchrist was rested for two games and returned to form against Sri Lanka on 29 January 2006 on his home ground, the WACA, hitting 116 runs off 105 balls to lead Australia to victory.

Adam Gilchrist continued in this vein with the fastest ever century by an Australian in just 67 balls against Sri Lanka at the Gabba, ending with 122 as Australia won the deciding third final by nine wickets.

Adam Gilchrist scored 206 runs at 29.42 in five Tests and 248 runs at 35.42 in eight ODIs, inflated by a 144 in the First Test against Bangladesh.

Adam Gilchrist scored 130 runs at 26.00, including a 92 against the West Indies as Australia won the 2006 Champions Trophy in India.

On 16 December 2006, during the Third Ashes Test at the WACA, Adam Gilchrist scored a century in 57 balls, including twelve fours and four sixes, which at the time was the second fastest recorded Test century.

At 97 runs from 54 balls, Adam Gilchrist needed three runs from the next delivery to better Viv Richards' record set in 1986.

The ball delivered by Matthew Hoggard was wide and Adam Gilchrist was unable to score from it.

Adam Gilchrist later claimed that the "batting pyrotechnics" had been the result of a miscommunication between Michael Clarke and him with the Australian captain Ricky Ponting; Gilchrist had actually been told not to score quick runs with a view to declaring the innings.

Between Ashes series, Adam Gilchrist had averaged only 25 with one Test century.

Adam Gilchrist scored 60 and 61 in the first two matches but did not pass 30 thereafter.

Adam Gilchrist was then rested for Australia's winless three-match ODI tour of New Zealand, before his selection for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Adam Gilchrist opened the Australian batting in each match, taking a pinch-hitting role in the opening powerplays.

Adam Gilchrist opened the batting against Sri Lanka in the final.

Adam Gilchrist went on to score 149 runs off 104 balls with thirteen fours and eight sixes, the highest individual score in a World Cup final, eclipsing his captain Ricky Ponting's score of 140 in the 2003 final.

The MCC stated that Adam Gilchrist had not acted against the laws or the spirit of the game, since there is no restriction against the external or internal form of batting gloves.

In September 2007, Adam Gilchrist played in the inaugural World Twenty20.

Adam Gilchrist scored 169 runs at 33.80 as Australia were knocked out by India in the semifinals.

Adam Gilchrist had scored only 150 runs at 21.42 in his final Test series.

Adam Gilchrist ended his final series with 322 runs at 32.20.

Adam Gilchrist's attacking batting was a key part of Australia's one-day success, as he usually opened the batting.

Adam Gilchrist was a part of the successful 1999,2003 and 2007 Cricket World Cup campaigns.

Adam Gilchrist was second on the all-time list of most sixes in Tests at 100 with only Brendon McCullum ahead of him with 107.

Adam Gilchrist attributed his batting techniques from early training with his father, where he would defend shots, sometimes only gripping the bat with his top hand, and would end a session to simply play attacking shots with tennis balls to end on a positive and fun note.

Adam Gilchrist adopted a naturally high grip where both hands were closer to the end of the handle for more top hand control.

Adam Gilchrist successfully kept wicket for fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee for most of his international career.

Adam Gilchrist reignited this debate by walking during a high-profile match, the 2003 World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka, after the umpire ruled him to be not out.

Adam Gilchrist has since proclaimed himself to be "a walker", or a batsman who will consistently walk, and has done so on numerous occasions.

On one occasion against Bangladesh, Adam Gilchrist walked but TV replays failed to suggest any contact between his bat and the ball.

In 2004, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming accused Adam Gilchrist of conducting a "walking crusade" when Craig McMillan refused to walk after Adam Gilchrist had caught him off an edge from the bowling of Jason Gillespie in the First Test in Brisbane.

Adam Gilchrist said in his autobiography that he had "zero support in the team" for his stance and that he felt that the topic made the dressing room uncomfortable.

Adam Gilchrist has been noted for his emotional outbursts on the cricket field, and has been fined multiple times for dissent against umpiring decisions.

Adam Gilchrist was reprimanded by the Australian Cricket Board for publicly questioning the legality of Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action in 2002, as his comments were found to be in breach of the clause in the player code of conduct relating to "detrimental public comment".

Adam Gilchrist was one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2002, and Australia's One-day International Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

Adam Gilchrist was awarded the Allan Border Medal in 2003, and was the only Australian cricketer who was a current player at the time to have been named in "Richie Benaud's Greatest XI" in 2004.

Adam Gilchrist has not only left his mark on Australian cricket but the whole cricketing world.

In 2010, Adam Gilchrist was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to cricket and the community.

Adam Gilchrist was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012.

Adam Gilchrist was named an Australia Post Legend of Cricket in 2021.

Adam Gilchrist then questioned why Tendulkar then agreed with Harbhajan's claim at the second hearing that the exchange was an obscenity, and concluded that the process was "a joke".

Adam Gilchrist raised questions over Tendulkar's sportsmanship and said he was "hard to find for a changing-room handshake after we have beaten India".

Adam Gilchrist later insisted that he did not accuse Tendulkar of lying in his testimony.

Adam Gilchrist denied calling the Indian a "bad sport" in regards to the handshake issue.

Outside cricket, Adam Gilchrist is an ambassador for the charity World Vision in India, a country in which he is popular due to his cricketing achievements, and sponsors a boy whose father has died.

Adam Gilchrist was approached in early 2005 by the US baseball franchise, the Boston Red Sox, with a view to him playing for them when his cricket career ended.

Adam Gilchrist has appeared as one of a panel of revolving co-hosts for the revived Wide World of Sports Weekend Edition.

Adam Gilchrist made his debut on the program in March 2008, and commentates on Fox Sport's cricket coverage during the Australian summer.

In 2013 Adam Gilchrist joined Ricky Ponting and various other names in cricket to commentate for Channel Ten in the third series of the Big Bash League.

Adam Gilchrist was the chair of the National Australia Day Council from 2008 to 2014.

In 2008, Adam Gilchrist supported debate on whether Australia Day should be moved to a new date because the current date marks British settlement of New South Wales and is offensive to many Aboriginal Australians.

Adam Gilchrist has had a number of company directorships outside of cricket.

Adam Gilchrist plays himself on the Australian comedy series How to Stay Married.