Adam Gilchrist (Image: AFP)
Adam Gilchrist revealed that he decided to give up after dropping an easy catch of VVS Laxman in the ongoing Test match.
Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist has reminisced about the incident that led him to retire from international cricket. One of the finest greatest wicketkeeper-batters, Gilchrist hung up his boots in 2008. He announced his retirement in the middle of the Adelaide Test against India.
At that time, he was only four matches away from reaching the milestone of 100 Tests. If he had continued, Gilchrist would have become the second wicketkeeper to achieve the historic feat.
During a recent chat on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast, the Aussie legend shared an anecdote about his shocking retirement.
Adam Gilchrist revealed that he decided to give up after dropping an easy catch of VVS Laxman in the ongoing Test match. The Indian batter edged a delivery off Brett Lee and the ball was within the reach of the wicketkeeper. Gilchrist, however, fumbled at the last moment and missed the chance.
Following the home series against India, Australia were scheduled to tour the West Indies where Adam Gilchrist would play his 99th Test. He could complete a century of Test appearances on Indian soil afterwards.
“A funny thing happened when India were in Australia the last time I played against them. I was trying to take a catch off the bowling of Brett Lee. And the night before I had been on the phone to my wife all night working out the travel plans because we were touring the West Indies after the India series,” Adam Gilchrist said on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast, as per NDTV.
“On that tour, I was probably going to get myself up to 99 Tests and then after that, we were going to tour India and that’s where I would have played my 100th and joined an elite group of Australian Test cricketers and a few others around the world,” he added.
After dropping the catch, Adam Gilchrist felt he might have lost his competitive edge and the assumption fuelled his decision to retire. As soon as the ball hit the ground, he looked at the big screen and watched the replay as many as “32 times.” He immediately made the decision and informed Matthew Hayden about it.
“I turned to Matthew Hayden and said I’m done, I’m out. From the ball hitting the glove to the ball hitting the grass, in an instant, I realized it was time to retire. Don’t worry about the tour of the West Indies, don’t worry about the 100th Test in India, that was the decision made for me to give up Test cricket,” Adam Gilchrist recalled.
During his illustrious international career, Adam Gilchrist represented Australia in 287 ODIs, 13 T20Is, and 96 Tests.
