In the pantheon of great Australian cricketers a quality besides being a genuine match winner – whether you talk of the Waugh brothers, the late great Warne, Hayden, McGrath, Johnson, Watson, Clarke and Ponting- shall always stand out. And it’s that of being a bit over the top, aggressive perhaps. Arrogant even! But against this inimitable Australian trait that often accompanies their fine talent, one cricketer in particular stands in a league of his own. He stands as a thorough gent, one who played cricket like how it should be played. With less of temper and more of application. Gentleness even. Rarely did he crumble under the match pressure or similar situations and went about doing his business, which usually was to produce the goods from behind the stumps. Playing a great part thanks to stellar glove work from behind the stumps and when in front , then with the willow. He carved bowlers, didn’t let them settle and blazed a trail of greatness for countless to follow. In his early days, 1998-99, he smashed a touring Pakistan side in Oz, a series aptly labelled “Barood” (or RDX), given the likes of Waqar, Shoaib, Langer, Lee, Hayden and company featuring in the stern contests. And later on in his career, he’d triumph against the mighty impressive Sri Lankans and bedazzle- on several counts- the Proteas’s side, especially in one day contests.
You’d hear him mutter the golden words, “Bowling Shane,” and on other occasions, striving as hard for his Straya as does that guitarist whose only purpose behind existence is to evoke surreal sounds in front of packed stadia. Adams Gilchrist, was and is a legend and as he turns 54, he’s given us enough reasons to celebrate and admire not just his genius but that pure, unflinching Australian desire for excellence. Never any shenanigans. Just pure love for the game; what have been some of the finest records that the iconic left handed keeper owns?
Also Read | Why Is It Called Ashes In Cricket?
Records of Adam Gilchrist across formats
As Wicketkeeper
Even as on date, the mild mannered but always focused Adam Gilchrist holds the record for most catches in a Test series: 25.
Moreover, he holds the record for most catches in a single Test: 10.
On the whole, he’s placed on the second rank for most number of catches, ever, in Test cricket: 379.
There’s a total of 416 dismissals in Test match cricket, including 37 stumpings.
As batter In Test Cricket
Scored 5,570 runs, showing strong performance in the longest format of the game.
Highest score was 204, a knock at Jo’burg v the Proteas that proved he could score big and quickly.
In all, Gilly made 17 centuries in Test matches.
In ODI Cricket
Scored 9,619 runs in One Day Internationals.
His highest ODI score was 172.
Hit 16 centuries, plus 1,162 fours and 149 sixes.
The record for the Fastest Test Century
Scored a century in 57 deliveries against England in 2006, the second-fastest Test century then. The uninformed may never know that this particular knock is still considered to be among the most thrilling innings, ever in the red ball format. In 2006 at Perth, England did feel the nerves, didn’t they?