ADAM Gilchrist has said he always put his family before cricket — we now discover they have been happy to put him before them, too. The star wicketkeeper-batsman's wife Melissa has told The Australian Women's Weekly magazine, which goes on sale today, that he was ready to give the game away at the end of last summer's Ashes series but she coaxed him into re-thinking his decision. The 36-year-old otherwise would have joined fellow greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, who all ended their Test careers with Australia's Ashes triumph, after batsman Damien Martyn quit the game mid-series. "Adam was just so worn out, so, so tired, and it took a lot out of him," Melissa said. "When he told me then we was thinking of retiring, I just felt that he needed to rest and build himself back up before he made such a critical decision. And, as a result, he stayed on." It is unclear whether Gilchrist would have left the game immediately had he gone through with his retirement decision at that time, or played on to take part in Australia's victorious World Cup campaign, as McGrath did. As it turned out, he starred in the World Cup final, belting an incredible 149 off 104 balls in Barbados last April, to lead Australia to a historic third consecutive triumph. He, McGrath and skipper Ricky Ponting were the only players to play in the World Cup successes of 1999, 2003 and 2007. Gilchrist went on this summer to take his Test dismissal tally to 416, along the way passing his predecessor Ian Healy (395 dismissals) as the nation's most prolific gloveman. He also briefly held the world record, overtaking South African Mark Boucher's tally of 413 in his final Test, before Boucher regained the lead against Bangladesh last Sunday. Melissa Gilchrist said that when her husband eventually did announce he was pulling the pin on his acclaimed career during the Adelaide Test last month, she was certain the timing was right. "When he rang this time from Adelaide and said, 'Do you know what? I think I'm done', I just said, 'Yes, go for it, that sounds so right'." She said the decision came down to a choice of family over cricket. Gilchrist will complete his international duties at the conclusion of the current tri-series against India and Sri Lanka. His last MCG game is on Friday.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Gilly wanted to quit a year ago, says wife Mel
ADAM Gilchrist has said he always put his family before cricket — we now discover they have been happy to put him before them, too. The star wicketkeeper-batsman's wife Melissa has told The Australian Women's Weekly magazine, which goes on sale today, that he was ready to give the game away at the end of last summer's Ashes series but she coaxed him into re-thinking his decision. The 36-year-old otherwise would have joined fellow greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, who all ended their Test careers with Australia's Ashes triumph, after batsman Damien Martyn quit the game mid-series. "Adam was just so worn out, so, so tired, and it took a lot out of him," Melissa said. "When he told me then we was thinking of retiring, I just felt that he needed to rest and build himself back up before he made such a critical decision. And, as a result, he stayed on." It is unclear whether Gilchrist would have left the game immediately had he gone through with his retirement decision at that time, or played on to take part in Australia's victorious World Cup campaign, as McGrath did. As it turned out, he starred in the World Cup final, belting an incredible 149 off 104 balls in Barbados last April, to lead Australia to a historic third consecutive triumph. He, McGrath and skipper Ricky Ponting were the only players to play in the World Cup successes of 1999, 2003 and 2007. Gilchrist went on this summer to take his Test dismissal tally to 416, along the way passing his predecessor Ian Healy (395 dismissals) as the nation's most prolific gloveman. He also briefly held the world record, overtaking South African Mark Boucher's tally of 413 in his final Test, before Boucher regained the lead against Bangladesh last Sunday. Melissa Gilchrist said that when her husband eventually did announce he was pulling the pin on his acclaimed career during the Adelaide Test last month, she was certain the timing was right. "When he rang this time from Adelaide and said, 'Do you know what? I think I'm done', I just said, 'Yes, go for it, that sounds so right'." She said the decision came down to a choice of family over cricket. Gilchrist will complete his international duties at the conclusion of the current tri-series against India and Sri Lanka. His last MCG game is on Friday.
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