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Adam Craig Gilchrist

Foward to Ian Harvey



Born: 14 November 1971, Bellingen, New South Wales
Major Teams: Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales.
Known As: Adam Gilchrist
Nickname: Churchy or Gilly
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Other: Wicket-Keeper
Test Debut: Australia v Pakistan at Brisbane, 1st Test, 1999/00
ODI Debut: Australia v South Africa at Faridabad, Titan Cup, 1996/97


Statistical Record:

TESTS
 (including 31/03/2000)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100  50  Ct St
Batting               9   14   3   629  149*  57.18  76.61   1   5  38  3

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best   5 10    SR  Econ
Bowling                -      -     -   -    -     -     -  -    -    -

ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
 (including 16/04/2000)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100  50  Ct St
Batting              95   93   4  2968  154   33.34  89.39   6  14 125 19

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best  4w 5w    SR  Econ
Bowling                -      -     -   -    -     -     -  -    -    -

FIRST-CLASS
 (last updated 02/08/2000)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct St
Batting              84  128  24  4248  203*  40.84  10  17  357 16

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best   5 10    SR  Econ
Bowling                -      -     -   -    -     -     -  -    -    -

Profile:

Originally from New South Wales, Adam Gilchrist made his Sheffield Shield debut as a specialist batsman in 1992-93 but relocated within two summers when it became obvious that his desire to become a first-class wicketkeeper would not be realised in his home State. Starved of opportunities (and frustrated by his inability to convince the New South Wales' selection panel that he was a superior 'keeper to the incumbent, Phil Emery), he elected to transfer to Western Australia, where he quickly displaced another highly regarded former international player in Tim Zoehrer. Since that time, he has deservedly acquired a name for himself as being among the nation's most exciting players. Behind the stumps, he is reliable, enthusiastic and athletic, although it should be said that he generally appears more comfortable keeping to faster bowlers than to spinners. As a batsman, his penchant for playing attacking shots and for punishing loose bowling also makes him a particularly enjoyable player to watch. Whilst his most devastating shot is the pull, he possesses a wide variety of strokes and his penchant for powering the ball square of the wicket is accompanied by an equally adroit capacity to drive the ball fluently through the arc between mid-off and mid-on. Although his elevation to national honours was not without controversy (as it was made at the expense of the ever-popular Ian Healy), such has been the extent of Gilchrist's progress since relocating that he has become a fixture in Australia's one-day international side - as both a 'keeper and dashing opening batsman - over recent seasons. Several of the innings that he has played in that form of the game have set up memorable victories for his team, and he also boasts the record for the highest individual score ever by an Australian at ODI level.

More success followed in late 1999, when his long awaited first appearance in Australian Test colours (following Healy's complete retirement from the sport) not only resulted in him making six dismissals but also permitted him the chance to compile a dashing 81 in brisk time against Pakistan in Brisbane. That this was followed by his pivotal role in a match sure to be cast long into the future as one of Australia's most famous ever wins - as he hit a stunning unbeaten 149 to lead the third most productive final innings chase in Test history - only served to underline his outstanding ability and add lustre to the notion that, even into his late twenties and beyond, Gilchrist could well carve a niche for himself as one of Australia's most successful ever wicketkeeper-batsmen.

(John Polack, November 1999)




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