Adam Gilchrist reveals his Muttiah Muralitharan fear

CRICKET legend Adam Gilchrist has revealed the “horrible” experience that was taking the field with one particular cricket star.

Adam Gilchrist has revealed he feared Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

ADAM Gilchrist once scored a Test century in 57 balls, so for most cricketers around the world he was a pretty intimidating man to bowl to.

But there was one man who turned the table on Gilchrist.

“The bowler I feared most was not a physical intimidation,” the former Australian wicketkeeper and new Fox Sports commentator said on Fox Footy’s Bob on Tuesday. “It was more psychologically and almost to the point of embarrassment – it was Murali.”

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The former Australian keeper was dismissed four times in six Tests by Murali.

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He added: “I couldn’t pick him. He turns the ball that far both ways and I could not pick him.”

The former Australian keeper was dismissed four times in six Tests by Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who has the record for most Test (800 at 22.72) and ODI wickets (534 at 23.08).

Gilchrist found facing him a chastising experience and he was not alone.

Muralitharan has the record for most Test (800 at 22.72) and ODI wickets (534 at 23.08).

“He can make you feel like an under-10s playing in men’s A-grade. It was just horrible.

“Mr Cricket, he can play anyone. He studies the game. He lives it, breathes it, eats. But him and I used to laugh at each other about how badly we played Murali.”

Muralitharan was not the only opponent Australia had a hard time against during Gilchrist’s playing days.

He spent more time than he’d have liked watching Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar putting the country’s all-star bowling attack to the sword.

Gilchrist has signed for Fox Sports Cricket’s commentary team.

“When it came to Sachin Tendulkar I had way too much time to appreciate (his batting). I know the dimensions of his arse from seeing it in close range from wicket-keeping behind him for hour after hour after hour.

“(They had) complete self-belief and if they didn’t believe it they certainly put up a wonderful cape of bravado around them to make sure that they weren’t exposing any uncertainties.”