Adam Gilchrist Profile by CricketArchive

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Player:

AC Gilchrist

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DateLine: 19th February 2007

 

One has to hesitate before hailing anyone as the ``greatest ever’’ in any field but no hesitation is required in terming Adam Gilchrist as the ``greatest ever wicket keeper batsman’’ in the game’s history. England’s Leslie Ames probably held that title for many years but were he alive he would gladly abdicate in favour of Gilchrist who in a short span of a little more than half a dozen years has emerged as the most dangerous batsman in cricket. And this holds good in both forms of cricket for remarkably Gilchrist is able to decimate the bowling with the same swashbuckling approach in both Test cricket and the limited overs game. Whether walking in to open in ODIs or coming in at No 7 in Tests Gilchrist’s sole aim is to belt the leather off the ball. He loves to hit it hard and high, for fours and sixes and is the spectators’ delight and the bowler’s nightmare. The duration of such buccaneering batsmen at the crease is generally explosive but short for there is more than an element of risk associated with this mode of batting. But amazingly Gilchrist has run up eye rubbing figures when it comes to big scores, averages and strike rate. He held for a short period the record of fastest Test double century – 212 balls. The record of most number of sixes in a Test career stands not surprisingly in his name. Only his bravado before the stumps clouds to some extent his brilliant work behind it for Gilchrist has brought off the most astonishing catches and stumpings. And as a fill in captain for the injured Ponting Gilchrist in 2004 experienced the rare honour of leading an Aussie team to a series victory in India for the first time in 35 years.