10 middle-order batsmen who became great openers

Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist scored 9619 ODI runs for Australia.

The man who transformed the role of the No.7 batsman in Tests, was known for his pyrotechnics at the top of the line-up in ODIs. Along with Matthew Hayden, Gilchrist used to brutally attack the opening bowlers: cutting, slashing and pulling them into submission. His initial role was that of a lower order slogger, coming in at No.7 in his first ODI against South Africa in 1996.

In the Carlton & United Series fixture against the same opposition in January 1998, he was promoted up the order. In only his second match in the new role, he scored his maiden century against a bowling line-up comprising of Donald, Pollock, Klusener and McMillan. Two matches later, he notched up another hundred, this time against New Zealand. He finished in 2008 with 9619 ODI runs and 16 centuries under his belt.