Adam Gilchrist has shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from test cricket after day three of the fourth test between Australia and India.Gilchrist will retire from cricket permanently after the upcoming Commonwealth Bank one day series involving India and Sri Lanka.The sudden decision comes one day after 36 year old Gilchrist became the world record holder for test dismissals, overtaking South Africa’s Mark Boucher with his 414th dismissal.
Gilchrist has been the subject of heavy criticism after a so far disappointing series against India. Gilchrist had a poor test with the gloves in Sydney, while his dropped catch in the Adelaide first innings, putting down a sitter against VVS Laxman, was a glaring error. Gilchrist has yet to fire with the bat, scoring 136 runs at an average of 22.66.
It was expected Gilchrist would make himself available for a hectic schedule in 2008, including away series in Pakistan, West Indies and India. There had even been speculation he could end his career at the 2009 Ashes series in England.Gilchrist made his debut in 1999 against Pakistan, making a sparkling 81 in his first innings. A sign of a glittering career came in the following test, when the keeper made 149 not out to salvage an unlikely victory for Australia over Pakistan in Hobart. Adelaide will be Gilchrist’s 96th test. The keeper/batsman has made 5556 runs at an average of 47.89. His 17 centuries is the most by a wicket keeper in test cricket, while his record 414 dismissals were made up of 377 catches and 37 stumpings.
Gilchrist was voted by his peers as Australia’s greatest ever one day player late last year. A three time world champion, Gilchrist has played 277 one-day internationals, scoring 9297 runs at an excellent limited overs average of 36.0, at a phenomenal strike rate of 96.90. He scored 15 centuries, highlightes by his 149 off 104 balls in the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka.
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