November 15, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 04, 1428

HOBART, Nov 14: Adam Gilchrist celebrated his 36th birthday in style on Wednesday when the dashing wicket-keeper-batsman was named Australia’s greatest ever One-day International cricketer.

Gilchrist was given that honour by his peers, with all 163 players to have represented Australia in ODIs invited to vote on the best.

In total, 110 players voted and Gilchrist won comfortably with 38 per cent of the poll from his captain Ricky Ponting (19 per cent) and former skipper Steve Waugh(14 per cent).

Three-time World Cup winner Gilchrist received the honour at an Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) function at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

Gilchrist saved his best until last in this year’s World Cup campaign in the West Indies with a spectacular 149 off 104 balls against Sri Lanka in the final in Barbados.

The ACA held a special tribute dinner in Sydney in February to announce Australia’s greatest ever ODI team, again as voted by former and current Australian ODI players.

The team was: Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh (captain), Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Greg Chappell (12th man).—Agencies