Adam Gilchrist: From dreams to glory

Success is not an overnight venture, but a hard fought journey. The exhibition of Adam Gilchrist’s caps at the Bradman Museum highlights one player’s journey from young hopeful to international superstar. It is the story before the story.

Adam Gilchrist's last Test (2008) by Phil Hillyard, News ArchiveBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame

Over the next few years Gilchrist is selected to play One Day Internationals, for Australia ‘A’, and subsequently Australia. He made his Test debut in 1999, succeeding Ian Healy as wicket keeper.

Until his retirement in 2008 he revolutionised the role of the wicket keeper - batsman. Including hitting the fastest Test century and opening the batting in the shorter forms of the game. He is a rare example of a Test player to master all three match formats.

_______________________


Tests: 96
Innings: 137
Aggregate: 5570
Centuries: 17
Highest score: 204*
Catches: 379
Stumping: 37
Most match dismissals: 10

ODI: 287

Innings: 279
Aggregate: 9619
Centuries: 16
Highest Score: 172
Catches: 417
Stumpings: 55
Most match dismissals: 6

T20: 13
Innings: 13
Aggregate: 272
Highest Score: 48
Catches: 17
Most match dismissals: 4


_______________________

Image of Adam Gilchrist makes returning for the presentation, to the applause of fans, after making his last Test match appearance for Australia following fourth test of series against India at Adelaide Oval. Image courtesy Phil Hillyard.

Adam Gilchrist (2007/2008) by Phil Hillyard/NewspixBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame

Adam Gilchrist's diving catch, WACA Perth Western Australia. 3rd Test v India 2007-2008.
Image Phil Hillyard/Newspix.

Gilchrist, Sydney Cricket Ground, Philip Brown, 2002/2003, From the collection of: Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
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Adam Gilchrist evades a bouncer playing England at the SCG during the 2002-2003 Ashes series.
Image Philip Brown.

Adam Gilchrist, Perth, Philip Brown, From the collection of: Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
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Adam Gilchrist, celebrating a milestone on his homeground, WACA Perth, Western Australia. 2006-2007. Image Philip Brown.

2nd Test - Day 2 (2008) by Philip BrownBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame

Adam Gilchrist watches Sachin Tendulkar lift Brad Hogg to the boundary. Image Philip Brown.

Gilchrist and Ponting Celebrate (2003-03-23) by UnknownBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame

Australia Captain Ricky Ponting and Vice Captain Adam Gilchrist, with the Cricket World Cup, after beating India by 125 runs, at Johannesburg South Africa, 23 March, 2003.

Remembering that each cap held significance for Adam Gilchrist at the time of reception, the full collection of 32 caps in Bradman Museum’s display provides insight into the hopes, struggles and triumphs of achieving success at the highest level. Each cap possesses an individual story which works in concert with the entire collection, to articulate Gilchrist’s journey from childhood dreams to cricketing glory.

Adam Gilchrist portrait (2013) by Dave ThomasBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame

This framed oil on canvas artwork is by famed Australian portrait artist Dave Thomas. Painted at the Bradman Museum in 2013, it depicts Gilchrist, interpreting his relaxed and approachable spirit, at the time of painting with an image of him during his playing career taped to the background the wall. The portrait utilises the same compositional structure that Bill Leak used for the 1989 portrait of Don Bradman, of which this portrait is adjacently displayed..


Commissioned by Bradman Museum, as part of a series on 'Greats of the Game'.

Credits: Story

Author: Andrew Summerell. Bradman Museum
Art Direction: Monica Donoso. Bradman Museum

© Bradman Museum 2019

Objects:
Loan items courtesy Adam & Stan Gilchrist:
Cap Collection, Wicket keeping Gloves and Baggy Green.
Portrait Adam Gilchrist, by Dave Thomas. Bradman Museum Collection. Photography by Google 2018.

Image credits:
Chuck Bradley collages: Cap Collection, Wicket-keeping Gloves and Baggy Green.
Phil Hillyard/Newspix
Philip Brown/News Ltd.
Google

Video:
Adam Gilchrist: Career Overview. Narrated by Mike Coward. Production Lightwell. Bradman Museum Collection.

Archive footage authorised for use by Bradman Museum for non-commercial gain.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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