5 most consistently destructive Test batsmen of all time

Adam Gilchrist (Runs - 5570, Avg - 47.61, S/R - 81.96)

Adam Gilchrist was in a league of his own among batsmen and wicketkeepers

Regarded as the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman in the history of the game, Adam Gilchrist was one of the chief architects of the dominance that the Australian team enjoyed from late 1990s till 2007.

His masterful keeping and destructive batting, lower down the order, left the opposition with nowhere to hide. He was the first player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket and held the record for maximum sixes at the time of his retirement, which McCullum later surpassed with 107 sixes.

Gilchrist also has the highest strike rate for any wicket-keeper batsman who played for a substantial length of time at this level, at 81.96.

Prior to his batting exploits, wicketkeepers were not expected to contribute in such a major fashion with the bat. Modern day aggressive and successful wicketkeeper batsmen owe the origin of their species to this legendary Aussie cricketer.