Sachin Tendulkar and others come together to celebrate Adam Gilchrist 's birthday

The cricketing universe today joined together to wish Australia’s cricketing legend and one the finest wicket-keepers of the game – Adam Gilchrist. The former Australia cricketer today celebrated his 45th birthday. ‘Gilly’ revolutionised the wicket-keeper batsman genre with his big hitting style and added plenty of flavour at the top of the order to the Australian national side.

His aggressive style of batting combined with athletic wicket – keeping became a source of inspiration for many upcoming cricketers of the early 2000’s including India’s most successful skipper MS Dhoni. Gilchrist holds plenty of records to his name. He has 417 catches and 55 stumpings to his name in ODI cricket, a record that stood tall until Kumar Sangakkara overtook it in 2015.

An example of his big hitting and high-intensity batting can be understood by his fourth-fastest Test century against England at Perth in December 2006 which saw him scoring a ton in just 57 balls. Further, his high-speed knock of 149 from 104 balls against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup final is rated as one of the best World Cup innings. That knock also happens to be the highest a wicket keeping batsman has ever made in a World Cup final. He was also first to 100 sixes in Test matches and first to 1000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Gilchrist made his international debut in 1999 against Pakistan in Brisbane went on to hit 5,570 runs in 96 Tests at an average of 47.60. In ODIs, he scored 9,619 runs from 287 matches at a strike rate of 96.94. Gilly retired from international cricket in March 2008.

Today is a day to play
Gilli Danda as a tribute to the incredible @gilly381 .
Happy Birthday Adam Gilchrist. pic.twitter.com/bY85OTuHQl

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 14, 2016

Happy Birthday, Adam Gilchrist. The greatest wk batsman of all time and the player who never missed an international match due to fitness.

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 14, 2016

One of the best men to have ever stood behind a wicket, @gilly381! A very Happy Birthday to you mate! I hope you catch all the good times! pic.twitter.com/i5g6d9HX0T

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 14, 2016

Often there comes a player who reminds of a past gr8.
Quinton De Kock jst reminds of @gilly381 .
His last5Test inngs 82 50 84 64 104#AUSvSA

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 14, 2016

Happy birthday legend @gilly381

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) November 14, 2016

Happy Birthday to one of the toughest competitors on the pitch and nicest guys off it – @gilly381! pic.twitter.com/PY2RiIAkTa

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 14, 2016

Happiest of birthdays to one of the greatest men you will ever meet @gilly381. ??

— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) November 14, 2016

Thank you to all who have passed on birthday wishes today. Very kind and greatly appreciated, especially when away from home.

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) November 14, 2016