Adam Gilchrist reveals 'good reason' behind his sudden decision to retire from Test in 2008 [watch]
Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist is time and time again given the credit for changing the role of a wicket-keeper in cricket but when Gilchrist announced his abrupt discision to call iit a day during the fourth Test at Adelaine against India in 2008, reports did the rounds that he had taken the decision after dropping the catch of VVS Laxman.
12 years after his retirement, Gilchrist more or less corroborated that dropping the catch of Laxman had indeed played a part in his decision to retire.
“I reckon it’s a good reason to retire if you drop the catch of VVS Laxman in a Test match. You don’t wanna give him too many chances,” Gilchrist told TV presenter Madonna Tixeira in her show ‘Live Connect’.
The former wicketkeeper batsman, who went into the fourth Test against men in blue denying reports of retirement, put out is decision mid-way through the Series, which caught everyone off gaurd.
The left-handed batsman, who was also known for his ability to turn the tide in favour of his team, said Laxman and Harbhajan always gave the Aussies a hard time.“He along with most of the Indian batting line up used to smash us and then Harbhajan would come and bowl us out. So it was pretty easy to get out of there and say that’s me done for a while,” said Gilchrist.
Gilchrist, who has 905 dismissals – 813 catches and 92 stumpings – under his belt in 396 international appearances – the second best after South Africa’s Mark Boucher – said he always wanted to retire when in good form.
“As far as retiring at the right time I always felt like I rather retire and people say as oppose to play on and people say why haven’t you retired. I think it comes again from the foundations of your life from parents, your upbringing, The people that are around you that’s the way you play your game. Just try and be fair honest about it,” he said.
The wicketkeeper batsman featured in 96 Tests and 287 ODIs and 13 T20I for his country amassing 5570 and 9619 and 272 runs respectively. The last ODI of his cricketing career was also against India in the CB series.
“Look I think I was not any crusader to walk out to make other people do it… It’s just the way you play cricket. I think there are a lot of people who walked off a game that aren’t given credit for... It’s just in a World Cup semifinal I did it and a lot of the cricket World paid attention to it and couldn’t believe it but I wish I did not nip the ball that day would have preferred to keep batting ..it’s just the way it went,” Gilchrist said.
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First published: 12 August 2020, 13:28 IST
