Greatest test XI of the modern era

#7 Adam Gilchrist (wk)

Adam Gilchrist – the greatest wicket keeper batsman ever

Ever since he took up the mantle of Australia’s wicket-keeper from the great Ian Healy, Adam Gilchrist was a constant in the Australian side and redefined the role of wicket-keepers. In the ODIs, he provided blazing starts as an opener that left the opposition bowlers gasping and, in tests, too, he adopted the same uncompromising style with remarkable success.

In a lineup brimming with many great batsmen like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh, it was Gilchrist’s presence at no.7 that terrified the opposition the most. Gilchrist’s whirlwind knocks often converted good totals into mammoth ones and paltry totals into respectable ones. That he could maintain a test batting average of 47 while scoring runs at a galloping pace of almost 82 runs per hundred balls is awe-inspiring.

Gilly’s acrobatics behind the wicket set a new benchmark for wicket-keeping. When a batsman left the crease, Gilly would dislodge the bails in a jiffy. Many thick edges that seemed to be destined for the boundary would often land in the ultra-safe gloves of Gilchrist, much to the horror of batsmen.

The Australian edges out his closest rivals Kumar Sangakkara and Mark Boucher for the role of wicket-keeper because of his extraordinarily aggressive batting style. Gilly’s selection is the easiest of all, easier than that of even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.