ADAM GILCHRIST

CRICKETER

Gilchrist is regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeeper/ batsmen in cricket history. In 2012 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the next year the International Cricket Hall of Fame. Since his retirement from international cricket in 2008 he has pursued a successful business career, as a company director and global ambassador for several organisations, including the University of Wollongong.

Gilchrist, 45, says money never entered his mind when he started his cricket career. “I never remembered, as a child, thinking ‘I want to be an Australian Test cricketer because I can earn some money out of it.’ It was because I loved the game and I wanted to wear a baggy green cap.”

At 17 he was given the opportunity to go to England on a scholarship. “I thought I’ll give cricket a go for a while and from that moment on it’s just been one opportunity after another, both within cricket and away from cricket.”

A scholarship to the Australian Cricket Academy followed. He reflects with gratitude on the opportunities he’s had.

You can be going well but that rusty gate can swing back and hit you in the face”

ADAM GILCHRIST