5 things you might not know about Adam Gilchrist

Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist was one of the most explosive left-handed wicketkeeping batsmen of his generation.

He was an integral part of the “Golden Era” of the Australian cricket team and played a significant role in the three World Cups, which were won between 1999 and 2007. In the 96 Tests he played for the Kangaroos, he amassed 5570 runs at an average of 47.60. His average in the ODIs was a bit lower but was still a significant part of the team as he averaged 35.89 in the 287 matches he played as he notched up 9619 runs.

As he turns 45 today, we take a look at the five facts which you probably did not know about Gilly.

#5 One of the fittest cricketers

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While his ability to be fearless in batting and his attitude is well known, what many don’t know about Gilly is that he was one of the fittest cricketers in his time.

The wicket-keeper batsman from Western Australia played in 96 Tests between November 5, 1999, and January 24, 2008, without missing any of them. He has kept wickets in all of those matches, and to continually do so for hours is not an easy task, but Gilly was always up to it.

#4 Extremely Charitable

One of Gilly’s charitable ventures in India

Being one of the most liked cricketers on the Australian cricket team, it does not come as a surprise that Churchy is one of the most generous persons from the team.

Gilchrist has been involved in a lot of charity work in India, a country in which he is popular due to his cricketing achievements. He is Australia’s education ambassador to India and is also an ambassador for the charity World Vision in India.

#3 Man for records

The first cricketer to 100 sixes

Gilly has broken numerous records over a career that spanned over 12 years. He became the first person to hit 100 sixes in international cricket. He has 416 dismissals to his name in Test cricket and 472 in One Day Internationals, which is the second-most in history.

Apart from these records, he was named as the Australian cricketer of the year in 2003 and 2004 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.

#2 90 dismissals along with Mcgrath

The deadly duo

The relationship Gilchrist and Australian legend Glenn Mcgrath had on the field was a special one. Given that Mcgrath was one of the most fearsome fast bowlers during Australia’s “Golden Era” of cricket, the Gilly-Mcgrath duo combined to achieve a total of 90 dismissals to his name.

By doing so, they were only five behind the record Rodney Marsh-Dennis Lillee combo. The “ c. Gilchrist b Mcgrath” was one of the most common sights on the scoreboard of a match that featured Australia.

#1 Bitter relationship with Warne

Warne and Gilly were not the best of friends

It might come as a surprise to the millions of fans Gilchrist has garnered over the years, but he did not share a warm relationship with his Australian teammate and one of the best spinners in the world - Shane Warne.

Despite sharing one of the best keeper-bowler partnerships in the history of cricket, in his autobiography, Gilchrist claimed that Warne did not particularly like him. According to Gilly, Warne called him a “licker,” and he allegedly wanted his Victoria teammate Darren Berry to be Ian Healy’s successor in Test cricket.