30 April 2007

Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist has been named as the Cricket World ® Player Of The Week after a record-breaking performance in the World Cup final, which Australia went on to win by 53 runs.

Up to that point, Gilchrist had had a relatively quiet tournament with the bat, but that was all forgotten as the Sri Lankan bowlers were smashed to all parts as he scored a World Cup final record 149 runs from 104 balls, striking 8 sixes helping Australia to a total of 281 for 4 from 38 overs.

Gilchrist, who also scored half-centuries in the 1999 and 2003 World Cup finals, overtook the mark set by his captain Ricky Ponting of 140 in Johannesburg, and also shared a record first-wicket partnership of 172 with Matthew Hayden.

His century was the fastest in a final (10 balls faster than Clive Lloyd’s in 1975) and effectively put the game beyond the Sri Lankans before they had even started their run chase.

The award was a unanimous decision, such was the ferocity and brutality of Gilchrist’s innings, although other contenders included Glenn McGrath for his performances in both the semi-final and final and Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene for his century against New Zealand.

Commenting on the award, Cricket World® Head Of Media Alastair Symondson said:

“He just played out of his skin. It was a wonderful innings. It was the difference between the two sides.”

The Cricket World ® Player Of The Week is judged by the www.cricketworld.com Editorial Team, which takes into consideration matches played in the preceding week with the final decision made on Monday morning.

Users are welcome to discuss the award and put forward contenders for each week's award on our forum, to do so, click here.