Melbourne: Former Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and former captain and selector Jack Ryder will be inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at the Allan Border Medal Night Tuesday.

The pair will be recognised for their outstanding cricket achievements - both on and off the field - for Australia and will join illustrious company as the 40th (Ryder) and 41st (Gilchrist) inductees respectively.

“Adam Gilchrist and Jack Ryder made enormous contributions to Australian cricket in different ways,” Hall of Fame chairman David Crow said.

“Gilly’ epitomised the cricketer we all loved to go and watch. He lightened up the game. We all wanted to go to see Gilly because he was such a high quality entertainer.

“He was able to combine his explosive batting with brilliant wicketkeeping.”

In 96 Tests for Australia, Gilchrist amassed 5,570 runs at an average of 47.60 and, even more remarkably, a strike rate of 81.95 - second only to former India opener Virender Sehwag among batsmen who have scored more than 2,000 runs.

Gilchrist also holds the Australian record for the most dismissals, with 416 in 191 innings (379 catches, 37 stumpings).

“It’s a tremendous honour,” Gilchrist said of the induction.

“I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to join such illustrious company, childhood heroes and icons of the game from previous eras which you grow up hearing about.”

No one sets out to earn these accolades. You play the game because you love it, so acknowledgements like this go beyond the thrill of playing for Australia.”

The first Test captain of Donald Bradman, Ryder played 20 Test for Australia, compiling 1394 runs at an average of 51.62 with three centuries and nine half-centuries. Also known for his wily medium pace, Ryder collected 17 wickets at an average of 43.70.

But it wasn’t just Ryder’s on-field exploits that set him apart, with the Collingwood product also contributing to the game over more than 20 years as a national selector alongside Bradman.

Meanwhile, one among the few top overseas players to have regularly featured in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, Michael Hussey believes that his bond with it has got stronger over the years having played the role of a “mentor” to young Indian players.

Hussey, who has played six seasons for Chennai Super Kings and one for Mumbai Indians, will again go under the hammer during this year’s auction and is very hopeful of playing in his eighth season in the league.

“I would love to be there as a player first and foremost. Most years that I have played IPL, I have seen myself as a bit of a mentor/coach to the younger players, particularly the young Indian players, with whom I have built up a fantastic rapport,” Hussey told PTI.

Known as ‘Mr Cricket’ for his consistency during the phase in which he played 79 Tests, 185 ODIs and 38 T20 Internationals for Australia between 2004 and 2013, Hussey is confident of bringing something to the table if he is picked by any of the franchises.

“I am really hopeful. I feel I can still mix it with the best players and contribute to the team. I love the contest between bat and ball. I love playing in the IPL.”

For Hussey, it’s the assortment of players from across the countries and exchange of cricketing ideas that have made IPL such an appealing product.

“I love watching the best players from around the world, how they prepare, talk about the game and how they see the game. I also love the atmosphere, the crowds are electric,” said Hussey, who is only 22 runs short of 4000 T20 career runs.

In the ongoing Big Bash League, he has been successful in two out of six innings (96 off 60 balls versus Brisbane Heats and 36 no off 21 balls vs Perth Scorchers).

Asked about his state of mind, Hussey said that he feels perfectly match-fit both physically and mentally.

“I have put in a lot of work over the years and also had an excellent preparation leading into the Big Bash. I came into the tournament fresh and excited and physically and mentally ready to perform,” said Hussey.

He is a few months short of his 40th birthday but he feels that the competitive streak in him is not yet satiated and he is not ready to call time on his T20 career.

“I don’t know! While I love the contest and I am fit enough and still contributing to the team I would like to continue playing,” concluded Hussey.