Wollongong visit revives ton of memories for Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist first came to Wollongong at 13. Naturally, he scored a century.Today, he is back as the star attraction in a fundraising campaign for the University of Wollongong.Gilchrist, regarded as cricket's greatest wicketkeeper-batsman, is in town for a junior clinic, celebrity Twenty20 match and sold-out gala dinner for medical research.The 97-Test veteran is the university's ambassador to India and has visited the subcontinent twice in the past 14 months to court investment in the Innovation Campus."Our main focus is targeting Indian businesses that are looking at having a footprint in Australia and we're encouraging them to come onto the Innovation Campus," Gilchrist said. Gilchrist's links to Wollongong stretch back to 1986, when he hammered his first century while playing for Far North Coast at Figtree Oval.That ton - the first of many, including 17 Test and 15 one-day international hundreds - was the product of hunger for Big Macs, not runs."I do remember my team-mates signalling for me to slog and get out so lunch would be taken and we could go to McDonald's," Gilchrist said."We didn't have one in Lismore and they wanted to cash in on the opportunity. All of a sudden I peeled off a hundred. All my team-mates were across the road buying burgers."It's your first hundred - you never forget it. I've always felt a close affiliation with Wollongong."Gilchrist had a less-than-appreciative audience that day, but he will be the centre of attention at the coaching clinic and gala dinner, which will draw more than 300 people to University Oval No 3 and the University Hall, respectively."It's a wonderful initiative and we're looking for as much support as we can (get)," Gilchrist said."Everyone is affected by not just cancer, but all these serious illnesses in some capacity."Gilchrist's famous, flashing blade won't be on show during the invitation-only Twenty20 match, which will be held at the revamped University Oval No 2. However, he is looking forward to casting an eye over - and a light-hearted sledge at - former team-mates who are taking part including Jason Gillespie and Dean Jones."There will be a lot of heckling from the sidelines but I thought my time was better spent thanking some of the great supporters in the corporate area," Gilchrist said."I know Dean Jones is always keen for a hit and and I think Jason Gillespie's keen to get him out if not inflict some pain beforehand."