Adam 'Gilly' Gilchrist flew into Lismore for the second Legends of Cricket Twenty20 match at Okes Oval tomorrow.

Gilly's first function of the weekend was to officially open the Adam Gilchrist Pavilion, which is the key component to a $12.4 million stadium upgrade for Oakes Oval and Crozier Field.

Mayor Steve Krieg said this is the third part in a trilogy of stand and pavilion openings for Oakes Oval over the last six weeks.

"Over the last six weeks, we've officially named the Lyn Larson grandstand in November and the John McMahon in December. It's really exciting to recognise probably Lismore's greatest sporting export in Adam Gilchrist. To get him home is a challenge, but we've got him for the weekend, and we're very grateful for him to give up his time. We've also got his in-laws here, Carol and Warren (Sharpe), which is really great as well; it really is a family event.

(Adam Gilchrist with his in-laws Carol and Warren Sharpe in front of the Adam Gilchrist Pavilion)

"When you name a stand or a pavilion after a person, it's not just about the individual, it's about the collective. And I know Mel, Adam's wife has been a rock solid supporter, along with Warren and Carol and Stan and June (Gilchrist) as well, who couldn't be here today, unfortunately. But it really is about the collective to get someone to the elite level, and it really is an honor to stand here today and officially announce the opening at the Adam Gilchrist pavilion.

Like Lyn Larson, Adam Gilchrist is a humble man who has achieved extraordinary feats since moving to Lismore with the family in 1984 and attending Kadina High School.

Gilly has won three consecutive World Cups (1999, 2003 and 2007). He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and has been inducted into the International Cricketing Hall of Fame.

Gilly changed the benchmark for wicketkeeper/batsmen with 416 dismissals and a test batting average of 47.60. He is regarded as the world's best ever wicketkeeper/batsmen, regularly named as the wicketkeeper in the best ever cricketing eleven.

"Thank you very much. It goes without saying what an extraordinary honour this is.

"I grew up in this town. I first saw Oakes oval, and I dreamt one day, maybe playing on there. Seeing the senior cricketers go about their business. My father and older brothers were part of that cricketing fraternity.

"In playing, I aspired to play one game on here and ended up playing some first-grade cricket here and scoring some runs. And, you know, the whole journey later, to find a pavilion that surrounds this ground with my name on it is quite an extraordinary feeling. It's very humbling.

"You mentioned rightly about family and support. There's no doubt I had the best support you could ever want to have from my family, mum and dad and my siblings, and then extending that into my wife, Mel and her family, Warren and Carol here today, is really important. So much goes into elevating individuals to certain heights, but so too is the community so vitally important to that and this Lismore community, Goonellabh, where I grew up, where I went to school at Kadina, and the friends and people around that. It's all part of the journey, and it's all part of that village that raises a youngster.

"So to be back here and to see my name up there is quite surreal. But I'm really appreciative of that, and it's nice to know that the Gilchrist family name, and I guess legacy, will be indelibly marked here now in a community that has been so important to my life's journey. So thank you for having me, and it's a real honour to be here."

(Mayor Steve Krieg shows Gilly through the change rooms at the new Adam Gilchrist Pavilion)

In reflecting his time batting in the middle at Oakes Oval, Gilly recalled his first first-grade hundred.

"I think I'm right in saying my first first-grade hundred in Lismore Grade Cricket was here on this ground and felt a bit surreal. A bit of a step up to another level in your own mind and by way of gaining confidence and belief in your ability. So, there are landmarks along the way, when you reflect on it, that were really pivotal moments in your career. And I reckon that was one of them as a sort of 14-year-old or 15-year-old, I guess, playing at Oakes."

When asked, as a 15-year-old, if he felt he would ever achieve the levels he has, Gilly replied, "I hoped. I hoped I could go to the highest level. That's all I ever really wanted to do in life, right from a very early age, was to play cricket at the highest level.

"I'd look on the TV and see guys who I thought were superhuman, that you aspired to get there. Fortunately, I was in a region and in a community that allowed the pathway to be opened up. I had two older siblings who played a lot of cricket, and I did. My sister, my oldest sibling, also played cricket, but the three of them forged and pioneered for our family pathways that opened up for me as a youngster. So I was inspired by them and inspired by the superstars on TV and dreamt of it, so it's been amazing to fulfill that.

Gilly took time to talk about Lyn Larson and John McMahon, who helped shape his cricketing life and inspired him.

"John was, I think, Director of Cricket, certainly Director of Coaching for junior cricket in this region when we first moved up here. And I know he and dad worked really closely. Particularly, my memories early when I was a youngster was they were both in coordinating so much of the particularly Junior cricket activity and junior coaching clinics and camps. So you know, the opportunity afforded to so many youngsters by John and dad and so many other people around was extraordinary. And that's the beauty of regional Australia, regional, New South Wales, you don't want for anything. You've got all the facilities. You've got all the opportunity there. And it's wonderful to see young talent taking and making the most of those opportunities.

"She (Lyn) was a lady that inspired me as well. I've said it before about Lyn, that people say you can't be what you can't see. But as far as I was concerned, I could see an Australian cricketer, test cricketer, who was a local, and that inspired me. I was completely enthralled by her journey and the fact that she was playing for Australia. So, I took a lot from that. It's amazing what relatively small inspirations to some people might not even be obvious, but for others, they get a hold of it, and that can lead you in a life's journey.

Mayor Steve Krieg spoke about the next young hot local cricketing talent coming out of Lismore, such as Cooper Williams and Joey Parsons, and how much they will learn and be inspired by playing cricket alongside their heroes as well as getting advice on what cricketing pathways are open to build on their cricketing careers.

Why is Lismore such a hotbed for talent?

"I think that the lifestyle that we lead, we're fortunate to lead in these regional areas," Gilly answered. "There's something wonderful about being out in country New South Wales, and not in the metropolitan area, where kids can probably roam a little bit more freely and and you've got all the facilities at your disposal to just be outside and play the natural environment. And the whole entire landscape, when you look at it, is conducive to being outdoors, being active and having fun. So that was very much what my recollection of childhood here was"

The Legends of Cricket Twenty20, Gilly's 11 versus the Mayor's 11, will be on tomorrow at Oakes Oval from 3pm. Gates will open at 1pm.

You can click here to buy your tickets.