Adam Gilchrist's list of cricketing achievements continues to grow, with news today that he has been appointed Western Australia's captain for the 2001-02 domestic season. The highly talented wicketkeeper-batsman and national vice-captain assumes the role following the retirement of veteran Tom Moody from the position at the end of the 2000-01 Australian programme.

In the seven years he has spent in the state since relocating from his native New South Wales, Gilchrist has already become one of Western Australia's greatest ever players. An adept gloveman and brilliantly accomplished left handed batsman, the 29-year old has participated in 53 first-class and 30 one-day matches for the state, was a member of its Sheffield Shield winning teams of 1997-98 and 1998-99, and also appeared in the championship-winning Mercantile Mutual Cup side of 1996-97. He has already been its acting captain in a total of 11 games, having often been required to stand in for Moody during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.

Although he is unlikely to be on hand for many of the Warriors' matches this summer, Gilchrist takes over the captaincy at an important time. In 2000-01, the Western Australian state side endured its most unsuccessful season in 11 years, having finished fifth in Pura Cup competition and failed to win either an interstate first-class or one-day title for the first time since 1995-96. Moreover, it embarks on its new campaign without two stalwarts in Moody and Brendon Julian, and popular coach Wayne Clark. A number of key personnel - including the Chief Executive Officer - have also departed from their positions with the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), the controlling body of cricket within the state.

Gilchrist assumes the helm with recent experience of the national captaincy behind him, having led Australia in each of two Tests inside the last 12 months. He guided his country to a five-wicket victory over West Indies in Adelaide late in 2000 but tasted defeat against England at Headingley last month after making an attacking declaration aimed at affording Australia the chance to complete a 5-0 series whitewash of its old enemy.

With Justin Langer anointed as Gilchrist's new vice-captain, the search for a fresh leadership team for Western Australia is, however, far from completely resolved. It is likely that the two players will both be on duty with the national team at various stages of the season, and that selectors will therefore be forced to turn to at least two other players to lead the team in their absence.

In a statement today, the WACA offered no indication of who those players would be. It advised that formal recommendations for a replacement captain and vice captain in such circumstances would instead be made at the time by the state's selectors to the Association's International and Interstate Cricket Committee.

Gilchrist remains on holiday in the United Kingdom at present and was unavailable for comment today.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd