Five unforgettable moments from Adam Gilchrist's career

#3 1999 rescue mission in Hobart

In just his second Test match, Gilchrist guided Australia to an incredible victory, chasing 369 to win in the fourth innings against Pakistan. It is now the ninth most successful run chase in the history of Test cricket.

After Australia slumped to 5 for 126, their hopes of saving the Test, let alone winning it, seemed to be gone. But Gilly's match-winning and history-making 149, alongside Justin Langer's 127 saw Australia chase down an unlikely target. Their 238-run stand won the admiration of a nation.

Gilchrist announced himself on the international stage with the bat in just his second Test match. He showed character, determination and optimism that would define his career for years to come.

#2 2007 World Cup Final century

Gilchrist scored the highest individual score by any player in an ICC World Cup final when he notched up 149 not out in Australia's triumphant campaign in 2007.

His 149 was more than half of Australia's total of 281, which was enough to secure their third consecutive World Cup title. Facing 104 balls, he choked the life out of the Sri Lankan bowlers, whacking 13 fours and eight sixes.

It was the innings in which Gilchrist famously wedged a squash ball inside his batting gloves to stop himself from 'strangling' the bat.

#1 Second-fastest Test Century (2006/07 Ashes series)

Gilchrist made his mark on the international arena as an explosive batter. That was never more evident than during the 2006-07 Ashes series. The hapless England bowlers had no idea how to stem the onslaught of runs he piled on at the WACA Ground.

On his adopted Western Australian home turf, Gilly belted 12 fours and four sixes to record the second-fastest Test century ever (at the time). He brought up his hundred in just 57 balls, which was just one delivery short of the then-record set by Sir Viv Richards.

His 102* helped set up a mammoth total of 5/527 declared for Australia to claim an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series in Perth.