Gilly and Rockstar Reunite for Iconic Aussie T20 Scene

Aussies still to confirm new squad | 01:09

Adam Gilchrist is going back to his roots and bringing several of his former teammates, as well as two of Australian music’s biggest names, with him to support a community recovering from one of Australia’s worst natural disasters.

Watch India vs England T20I & ODI Series LIVE on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Lismore in northern New South Wales, Gilchrist’s hometown, was ravaged by the biggest flood in modern Australian history in 2022 and will still be feeling the effects for a decade.

But the city is bouncing back, and that’s why the Fox Cricket commentator wants to not only help, but also acknowledge the community’s outstanding resilience by playing a charity T20 match on Saturday 15 February at Oakes Oval in Lismore.

Powderfinger front man Bernard Fanning, who lives locally, is a confirmed starter, so too is Grinspoon guitarist Pat Davern, another local.

Gilchrist’s former national teammates Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel and Nathan Hauritz are on-board too, as well as former Australian cricketers Dan Christian, Steve O’Keefe and Doug Bollinger.

Plus, WBBL stars Georgia Redmayne and Sammy-Jo Johnson will also be among the two teams which will include talented youngsters from the local area.

“We’ve got a bit of rockstar material,” Gilchrist said.

“If we win, Bernard’s on my team, I’m expecting a good rendition of a team song.

“He’s a big cricket enthusiast and I met him over 20 years ago. We’ve crossed paths at different events. Funnily enough, we were sitting next to each other, just the two of us in a little corporate box that for some reason had been emptied out, when Peter Siddle took his hat-trick at the Gabba. No one else around.

“Just he and I, hugging each other and throwing high fives. He’s a cricket lover. He’s attended plenty of Tests and I’ve been fortunate to get along to a number of his concerts over the years, whether that was Powderfinger or his solo stuff.”

It will be the second time that Gilchrist has played a vital role in staging the Legends of Cricket T20 match in Lismore after first doing so in 2023.

Ricky Ponting came up for that game, but the former Australian captain and a few of Gilchrist’s other great mates unfortunately had to decline this time due to being overseas for the Champions Trophy and various T20 franchise league commitments.

Nevertheless, the previous occasion was such a hit that Gilchrist simply had to go back to Lismore.

“It’s where I grew up so I have a strong affiliation there. I know the mayor quite well, Steve Krieg, he just became mayor before the floods. He actually lost his home and his business, and had his own scenario to think about, but put the city of Lismore first and has worked tirelessly since then to clean it up and start the rebuild,” the former wicketkeeper batter recalled.

“Him and I were talking and he wanted to put on a community event, not so much a fundraiser but something to mark 12 months on for the community and congratulate them on their resilience, and ability to bounce back.

“We played a game. I rallied a whole bunch of ex-teammates and came up to Lismore. We had a really good day. Only half the ground of the main ground in Lismore could be used because it was still flood damaged, but it was a really fun day. The community loved it and we’ve decided to go again on it.

“There’ll be a bit of fundraising, but as much as anything, it’s acknowledging that the town is moving on. There’s been $80 million in investment in building and development in the rebuild. Federal and state governments are supporting the local council to get things going, it’s going to be a ten year job really.

“A lot of infrastructure still needs fixing – roads and bridges. The pavilion has been rebuilt at the sports ground. There’s another new, smaller pavilion that’s been built so we wanted to put on another event to say well done to the community and get them all involved in what should be a great day.”

The cricketing greats will also be staging a coaching clinic for local children during the day, while Gilchrist is also staging a breakfast to raise money and tell stories with fellow former Australian representatives Trevor Chappell and Geoff Lawson.

“To take a little bit of star power back to the regions is great. It brings the community closer together, and I think the spirit that was around on the day a couple of years ago was terrific,” Gilchrist said.

“It’s a region that’s been decimated but it has a tremendous, fighting spirit and it comes out on display on days like this.”

Find out more at visitlismore.com.au