Five life lessons to learn from the immortal Adam Gilchrist

The “Mighty Aussies” of the early 2000s terrified every opposition as they had a combination of stupendous players with whom none stood parallel. If you get one, two, three, four or let’s say five of the big wickets in the Australian batting order, the sixth would come out and win the game on his own and this is why they were almost impregnable. Of the many who donned the baggie green during that time, Adam Gilchrist held a very special place not just in the team, but also in the hearts of the fans. He spent a lot in his late teen years and early youth years in the domestic circuit and almost lost hope at one point of making it to the elite level. His perseverance finally paid off when he made his debut in 1996 and 12 years later, he retired from the game not before earning the “GOAT” status. 905 dismissals, 15,461 runs, 33 centuries in International cricket and one scintillating legacy – for many, this is what the great man had achieved in his tenure. Adam Gilchrist was a lot more than just those amazing statistics. He was a revolutionary in the game, a gentleman par excellence and one of the most universally loved cricketers of all time. As the legendary cricketer turns 47, here are some attributes of his persona which might give us a pathway to lead a respectful life. 1. Being a gentleman never goes out of fashion Adam Gilchrist. (Photo by Jonathan Wood/Getty Images) From the bamboozling Barbados on the west, the ever-exuberant Eden Gardens in India to the holistic MCG in the East, no matter where he was playing, the crowd always stood up and applauded Gilchrist when he came out to bat. If we were to sum up his legacy in a few lines, the previous sentence would be that. He hailed from a side where cricketers were masters at being aggressive both with their game and actions. It doesn’t take long for people to get influenced and just follow the suit, but he wasn’t gullible. Although there were many around him who would go a wee bit over the line to antagonize the opponent, Gilchrist would never forget his ethics. That is why he earned so much respect and makes him very special. A pleasant smile, calm demeanour and ruthlessly vehement with the willow in hand – Gilchrist was a collection of some unique facets and this collaboration made him very adorable. 2. Never say die! Adam Gilchrist. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Well, the mighty Aussies were called so for a particular reason. No matter how good a position you are in, there’s no way anyone can get complacent playing against them as the opponents’ overconfidence was their prey. The 47-year-old’s role in building that attitude in the side was immense. That Australian side was known for making its own fortune and Gilchrist’s fortitude deserves a mention when we talk about their perseverance. He wasn’t the easiest of batsmen to trap and behind the stumps, his canny nature sometimes earned them wickets out of the blue. Sometimes when you’re not lucky, try making your own luck and you can only do so by spending every second fruitfully. If things don’t go in your favour despite many efforts, you have to understand that efforts never go in vain and they will pay off at one point or the other. 3. Work on the extras, but never forget your forte Adam Gilchrist of Australia. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto/Getty Images) Adam Gilchrist entered the International circuit around a time where wicketkeeper’s role was to be a decent enough batsman in the lower middle order. No keeper prior to him offered so much with the bat and he changed the job description of a wicketkeeper forever. He had to concentrate a lot on his batting, but he never his skills behind the stumps decline. This is one aspect which youngsters can learn from him, to never forget the things you are good at. Although he was a brilliant batsman, his forte was wicket-keeping and he managed his training schedules accordingly to excel in both areas. All those hours of hard work spent on both these facets reflect on his mind-boggling statistics. 4. Take every challenge in the stride, with a smile Adam Gilchrist. (Photo Source: Hamish Blair/ALLSPORT) Gilchrist kept exploring new horizons in his game as time kept passing. After watching his batting prowess, he was made to open by Steve Waugh, a decision that proved to be a master-stroke. He had a challenging role to play in the middle order in Tests and he was game for that as well. No matter how intricate a situation he was exposed to, he had a smile on his face and considered each of these opportunities as a chance to gift some joy to millions of Aussies. He took every challenge in the stride joyfully and his grit helped him succeed in all of his endeavours. 5. Consider big occasions as an exciting challenge, not a deathly graveyard Adam Gilchrist. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Gilchrist’s record in World Cup finals – 54 off 36 balls in 1999 against Pakistan, 57 off 48 balls in the 2003 against India, 149 off 104 balls in 2007 against Sri Lanka. No cricketer in the history bagged three fifty-plus scores in World Cup finals apart from him and he certainly was a cricketer tailor-made for big occasions. In an interview with Cricket Australia a long time ago, he explained how much these pressure-cooker situations excited him. It was his perspective which helped him get the better of nerves and although this is not something which anyone can instil easily, we can start by changing our perspective. That is where the change begins, by looking at the brighter picture. Any random cricketer would think “What if not?” in such situations but Gilchrist was someone who would imagine the celebrations and joy he can bring with a good knock. That’s why he was very special and there ain’t many better role models for kids in any generations. Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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Five life lessons to learn from the immortal Adam Gilchrist

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4. Take every challenge in the stride, with a smile

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