Adam Gilchrist named Rodney Marsh, MS Dhoni, and Kumar Sangakkara as his top three wicketkeeper-batters of all time.
Adam Gilchrist, regarded as one of cricket’s greatest wicketkeeper-batters, had an illustrious international career spanning from 1996 to 2008. In 96 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 13 T20Is, he amassed 15,461 runs and recorded 905 dismissals, making him second in international history for wicketkeeping records.
When asked to name his top three wicketkeeper-batters of all time, Gilchrist chose Australia’s Rodney Marsh as his top pick, followed by India’s MS Dhoni and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara. Marsh, his childhood idol, was a significant influence on his career. Dhoni was recognized for his composure under pressure, while Sangakkara was admired for his elegance and skill in both batting and wicketkeeping.
“Rodney Marsh, he was my idol. That’s who I wanted to be. MS Dhoni… I like his coolness. He did it his way, always calm. And Kumar Sangakkara. He was so classy in everything he did, batting high up the order and with his keeping skills,” Gilchrist told The Times of India.
Gilchrist also reflected on his challenging and rewarding moments in cricket, highlighting the 2001 Kolkata Test as one of his toughest days. In that match, India’s VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted throughout the day, turning the game around after Australia enforced the follow-on.
“Kolkata, 2001, when VVS (Laxman) and (Rahul) Dravid batted all day. They just shut us out of the game. When I reflect on it, you almost knew you were part of something special,” he said.
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He then recalled Australia’s historic Test series win in India during the 2004-05 season, where he captained the team in the absence of Ricky Ponting. Australia won the series 2-1, marking their first series victory on Indian soil in years.
“Captaincy brings different pressures and expectations. Also, an element of excitement that you can have such an impact on the game. There are tough days, there are challenging days and then there are pleasing days. To win in India in 2004-05, that was a fulfilling experience, makes captaincy nice and fun,” Gilchrist concluded.
Last Updated on August 21, 2024
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